The White House characterized Arafat's call over the weekend for Palestinians to rise up against anyone who would prevent them from praying in Jerusalem as `unfortunate.'

``We believe that there is no place in this process for any statement that calls for violent action,'' White House spokesman Joe Lockhart said. Lockhart, noting that the US would be raising these concerns with Arafat directly, emphasized that when the Palestinian leader signed the Wye River accord at the White House last month, he had pledged that the Palestinians would not stray from the path of peace.

``It should remain at the core of all his pronouncements and actions,'' Lockhart said. Asked about Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu's threat to block the application of the accord if Arafat failed to publicly retract hiscomments, Lockhart said the deal was signed `without conditions.'

He added that the Netanyahu and Arafat had spoken by telephone. Echoing Lockhart's statements, US State Department spokesman James Rubin said Monday that ``the Wye river memorandum was signed without conditions''. Rubin also criticized statements by Israeli Foreign Affairs Minister Ariel Sharon in response to Arafat's speech. Sharon called on Jewish settlers to seize more West Bank land.

Meanwhile, the Palestinian leader on Monday insisted he remained committed to the peace process but did not retract his comments.

In a speech on Sunday to members of his Fatah political movement, Arafat expressed frustration with Israeli delays in implementing the accord and with continued expansion of Israeli settlements and land confiscations, especially in Jerusalem.

``Our rifles are ready,'' he had said, ``and we are prepared to raise them again if anyone tries to prevent us from praying in holy Jerusalem.'' Arafat also renewed his vow to issue aunilateral declaration of Palestinian independence next May, when interim peace accords with Israel expire, despite warnings from Israel that such action will end the peace process and lead to the annexation of occupied territory.