Palestinian leaders say they are skeptical about a suggestion from Israel that truce talks resume while the Israeli-Palestinian fighting continues. 

A spokesman for Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat told VOA that if the Israelis are serious, they should stop their attacks immediatelly. 

Mr. Sharon's comment, during an Israeli television interview Friday, marked the first time he did not demand a full week of calm before talks resume. The prime minister says Israel is willing to discuss a cease-fire plan, but if terrorism continues, Israeli forces will continue to fight hard. 

Israeli attacks on Palestinian targets continued Saturday, with missile strikes on government buildings in Gaza City and the West Bank town of Nablus. Israeli forces also carried out an operation in Khan Younis, in the southern Gaza Strip. There are no reports of casualties. 

Palestinian officials say PLO leader Yasser Arafat spoke with U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell Friday, urging immediate U.S. intervention to stop the escalation of violence. More than 100 Palestinians and 35 Israelis have been killed in the worst week of violence since Israeli-Palestinian clashes began more than 17 months ago. 

Israeli sources say Prime Minister Sharon also spoke with Mr. Powell Friday, informing the secretary of a decision to drop the demand for a week of calm. 

U.S. State Department spokesman, Richard Boucher, criticized both Israeli and Palestinian officials Friday, saying they must consider the consequences of their policies. He said Mr. Arafat must make a bigger effort to stop the violence, and criticized Israel for using strong military force in heavily populated areas. 

Vice President Cheney and the U.S. Mideast peace envoy, Anthony Zinni, are preparing for separate visits to the Middle East region to work on ending the violence. General Zinni has been unsuccessful in two previous attempts to negotiate a cease-fire. 

Israeli forces killed at least 39 Palestinians Friday, the deadliest day of the current wave of violence. The deaths came after a Palestinian gunman killed five people at an Israeli settlement in Gaza. 

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