Israeli leader calls for cease-fire with Palestinians

The Mitchell Committee report

From CNN Jerusalem Bureau Chief Mike Hanna

JERUSALEM (CNN) -- Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon called Tuesday for a cease-fire in the Middle East but said, "The first thing that has to happen is an end to the terror."

At a news conference, Sharon repeated his government's stand that Israel is ready to negotiate with the Palestinians but only after there is a halt to the violence.

"This evening I called for a general cease-fire in the region," said Sharon. "A cease-fire has to be by all parties involved.

"I state here and repeat once again if the Palestinians accept the proposal for an immediate cease-fire, we shall immediately stop the fire."

Sharon's comments came a day after the Mitchell committee -- an independent, international panel investigating the Middle East crisis -- issued its recommendations. Key among them was an appeal to both sides to declare an immediate cease-fire and to take "confidence-building" steps toward new peace talks.

Shortly after Sharon's remarks, Saeb Erakat, the chief Palestinian peace negotiator, blamed Sharon for the continuing violence, saying "he started it all" by making a provocative trip to the Temple Mount last September.

The Mitchell report said the violence could not be blamed on that visit, but said it was "poorly timed" and its "provocative effect" should have been foreseen.

Erakat called on the United States to "convene a summit for all the participants in the Mitchell report."

Earlier Tuesday, envoys met with Sharon and Palestinian Authority President Yasser Arafat to convince them to call a cease-fire.

CNN ACCESS Peres: 'Our enemies are not the Palestinians' Erakat: Mitchell report can provide a way out Mitchell: No such thing 'as conflict that can't be ended'    VIDEO In an exclusive interview with CNN, former U.S. Sen. George Mitchell talks about the report (May 21) Part 1 |  Part 2 (QuickTime, Real or Windows Media)   RESOURCES Full text of the Mitchell Committee's report (from the Meridian International Center website) Requires Adobe® Acrobat® Reader™ Click here to download the reader.

U.S. Ambassador to Israel Martin Indyk and U.S. Consul-General Ron Schlicher met with Sharon to "discuss a framework" for implementing the Mitchell report.

European Union envoy Javier Solana, a member of the five-man committee, met separately with Arafat in Gaza.

United Nations envoy Terje Larsen, who also talked with Arafat, said he saw a "convergence" forming around the Mitchell report that might lead to a cease-fire.

But Larsen warned there is still a disconnect between the diplomatic initiatives now going on and what is happening on the ground.

Palestinian security sources said Israeli tanks had made five incursions Tuesday into Palestinian-controlled territory in Gaza. The Israel Defense Forces said it had conducted only one so-called "pinpoint" incursion near Karni crossing to clear undergrowth where bombs could be hidden.