Both Israeli and Palestinian officials say efforts by the US special envoy, Dennis Ross, to revive the Middle East peace process have failed, after he ended his latest mission to the region.

Israel's cabinet secretary, Danny Naveh, told Israeli radio there was still a long way to go.

Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat's adviser, Nabil Abu Rudeineh, said Mr Ross's visit had produced no results.

Both sides accused the other of failing to keep their commitments. Mr Ross himself said that little, if anything, was achieved.

The BBC's Jerusalem correspondent says Israel believes the Palestinian Authority must do much more to crackdown against militant Palestinian groups bent on violence against Israel.

Palestinian leaders accuse Israel of violating the Oslo peace deal by expanding Jewish settlements.

On Thursday, Israel decided to build 600 new homes on the West Bank - a move which has further angered the Palestinians.

The American President, Bill Clinton, is due to hold separate meetings with Mr Arafat and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Washington later this month as part of US efforts to revive the peace process which stalled 10 months ago.

The BBC's correspondent says during his visit Mr Ross would have urged Mr Arafat to come up with a credible and comprehensive set of security measures.

Benjamin Netanyahu

Washington's message to Mr Netanyahu is the need for an equally credible and significant troop redeployment from the West Bank.

It is still not clear how much occupied land on the West Bank Mr Netanyahu is willing to give up.

The Israeli leader is under pressure from hardliners in his cabinet to resist the kind of pull-back proposed by Washington. But moderates in his camp are sending the opposite signal.
 

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