The Palestinian prime minister, Mahmud Abbas, has demanded that Israel release Palestinian prisoners and lift measures against the Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat.
He was speaking following talks in Jericho with the American Secretary of State, Colin Powell, who is on a tour of the region to promote the US-backed peace plan for the Middle East.
Earlier Mr Powell met the Israeli Prime Minister, Ariel Sharon, who demanded that the Palestinain leadership clamp down on terrorism immediately.
Mr Sharon said Israel is prepared to make painful concessions in order to make the Middle East peace plan work. But he said Israel would never compromise its national security.
Speaking at a news conference after the meeting, Mr Powell called for rapid and decisive Palestinian action to disarm militants.
Colin Powell arrived in Israel last night at the beginning of his tour of the region to promote the US-backed road map for peace.
He began his visit by urging both sides to act without delay.
This morning, Israel announced that it would reopen the country's border with the mainly Palestinian West Bank and Gaza later today.
Meanwhile, an Israeli man is reported to have been shot dead in the West Bank this morning.
An Israeli police spokesman said Palestinian gunmen opened fire on an Israeli car near the Jewish settlement of Ofra, killing the driver.
