U.S. urges peace as bombs rattle Jerusalem

More than 20 were treated for shock and injuries sustained in the blasts

JERUSALEM (CNN) -- Against a backdrop of continuing violence in Jerusalem, senior U.S. diplomat William Burns met Sunday with Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and his foreign and defense ministers.

Burns said he and Sharon discussed ways of implementing the Mitchell Report, named after former U.S. Sen. George Mitchell, which calls for an immediate, unconditional cease-fire followed by a cooling-off period, confidence-building measures and a resumption of peace negotiations.

Burns told Sharon he appreciated Israel's policy of restraint in the face of continuing violence.

But Sharon responded that Israel cannot continue to adhere to that policy indefinitely, according to a statement released by his office. He reiterated his view that violence must stop before peace talks can resume.

Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres said it is important for both sides to follow the sequence of events laid out in the report.

But the Palestinians have said they want to speed things up and get back to peace talks as soon as possible.

AUDIO U.S. diplomat William Burns: U.S. condemns terrorist attacks 455K/42 sec. AIFF or WAV sound CNN's Ben Wedeman: Israel's policy of restraint can't go on for long if bombings continue 354K/33 sec. AIFF or WAV sound    VIDEO A car bomb ripped through a crowded area in central Jerusalem early Saturday night (May 26) Play video (QuickTime, Real or Windows Media) A car bomb exploded friday evening in a Palestinian refugee camp near Nablus killing one and injuring three (May 26) Play video (QuickTime, Real or Windows Media)    RESOURCES Full text of the Mitchell Committee's report (from the Meridian International Center website) Requires Adobe® Acrobat® Reader™ Click here to download the reader.    ALSO Bush said ready to take 'active' role in Mideast Muslim states take stand against Israel

Before meeting with the Israelis, Burns discussed the Mitchell Report Sunday morning in a meeting with Palestinian Authority President Yasser Arafat.

Burns said afterward that he urged Arafat to do "everything possible to stop such attacks," and described the meeting as constructive.

The talks went on amid continuing violence in the region. A car bomb exploded around 9 Sunday morning in central Jerusalem. Two people were hit by flying glass; more than 20 others were treated for shock.

The car was packed with explosives, including mortar shells and bullets. An initial blast threw smaller explosive devices throughout the area. Police closed Jaffa Road, a main thoroughfare, for hours as they worked to defuse the unexploded ordnance.

Hizbullah Television reported the Islamic Jihad had taken responsibility for the blast.

It was the second blast within just a few hours. A Subaru containing explosives detonated around 12:30 a.m. Sunday in a parking lot near the Jerusalem police headquarters in an entertainment area that was packed with young people. No one was wounded in the incident. In a faxed message to CNN, the Damascus-based Popular Front for Liberation of Palestine claimed responsibility.

In a separate incident, Israeli police said they were investigating reports of two Palestinians injured near a Jewish settlement in Ramallah on the West Bank.

Sharon discussed the weekend violence with his defense and foreign ministers on Sunday, but a spokesman told CNN no policy change was expected.

Avi Pazner, an adviser to Sharon, blamed the Palestinians for the car bombs. "Since Sharon declared a cease-fire four days ago, we have had about a dozen terrorist activities," Pazner said.

"Apparently this is the answer of the Palestinian Authority to our gesture of peace," Pazner said, "and I must tell you that our patience has limits as we are witnessing an escalation of a war of terror against us."

But he lauded U.S. efforts to get the peace talks back on track. "I think it is important to try to base an effort on the Mitchell report to try and cease violence," Pazner said. "Israel has announced that it is in complete agreement with the finding of the Mitchell report. We will like to see the Palestinians declare publicly also their willingness."

An Arafat aide said the Palestinians cannot be expected to rein in the militants. Palestinians have called Sharon's ceasefire a publicity gimmick.

Burns is scheduled to meet again Monday with Arafat, and may meet with Sharon again.