MIDDLE EAST: US MIDDLE EAST ENVOY DENNIS ROSS PEACE MISSION UPDATE

(28 Mar 1997) English/Nat Wrapping up a two-day mission to rescue the faltering Mideast peace process, President Clinton's envoy said Friday that violence must cease before Israel and the Palestinians can move forward in negotiations. The envoy, Dennis Ross, appeared to be reprimanding Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat who has been accused by Israel of orchestrating stone throwing riots in the West Bank in recent days. As Ross spoke, clashes continued for a ninth day in several areas of the West Bank. In Jerusalem, some worshipers briefly stoned Israeli police deployed around the Al Aqsa Mosque compound - Islam's third holiest shrine - but the protests were contained by Muslim clergymen. The talking over, Israeli officials wait for the outcome of U-S peace envoy Dennis Ross' latest mission to try - once again - to salvage the crumbling peace process. Sent to the region by President Clinton after an explosion of violence, Ross held talks Thursday with P-L-O leader Yasser Arafat, followed by two meetings Friday with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Speaking to reporters, Ross said the first step must be an end to clashes between Palestinians and Israeli troops. SOUNDBITE: (English) "It's essential to re-establish calm. If there's going to be a way to find the means and the best methods for moving forward we have to have an environment of calm." SUPER CAPTION: Dennis Ross, U-S Middle East envoy But such a way forward may not be so easy. Despite a pledge by Arafat to stop violence against Israel, Netanyahu said he'd judge the Palestinians through their deeds before deciding whether to resume peace talks. SOUNDBITE: (English) "I think that what is required is a restoration of trust by swift and determined and continuous action on the part of the Palestinian Authority against the terror organisations." SUPER CAPTION: Benjamin Netanyahu, Israeli Prime Minister But the growing gap between Israeli and Palestinian conditions to start talking again was underlined by the chief Palestinian negotiator following a meeting with Ross. SOUNDBITE: (English) "We're going through a major crisis in this peace process, Mr Netanyahu knows very well and if he takes one look in the mirror he would realise the reasons for this escalation of violence and counter violence and Mr Netanyahu realises that settlement and peace do not go together. He has to make up his mind to choose between settlements or peace - he cannot have both. He has to choose between partnership with the Palestinians or partnership with Rechavam Ze'evi and Hanan Porat. (right-wing Israeli Cabinet members)" SUPER CAPTION: Saeb Erekat, chief Palestinian negotiator Meanwhile violence erupted for the ninth consecutive day on the streets of the West Bank. In the town of Hebron, riots raged for several hours. Palestinian security officials tried in vain to stop hundreds of youths stoning Israeli troops. Israeli soldiers responded with tear gas and rubber bullets to keep the rioters at bay. In Ramallah, troops with plastic riot shields formed a human chain to keep protesters back but were quickly overrun by hundreds of angry Palestinians. When Palestinian security officials tried to disperse the rioters, the protestors turned against them. The Palestinians have blamed Israel for the violence. They have said Netanyahu's hardline policies, including his decision to start construction of a Jewish neighbourhood in disputed east Jerusalem, have triggered the riots. However, Muslim clergymen carrying megaphones ordered the stone throwers to stop. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...