The Palestinian leader was leaving Washington today after the US president failed to convince him to accept his peace proposals.
Refusing to abandon his peace effort, the US president, Bill Clinton, is planning telephone diplomacy with Palestinian, Israeli and Arab leaders. "We need to hear back very quickly," the White House said as time was running out on the president's elusive peace pact.
More than three hours of meetings with Yasser Arafat at the White House yesterday yielded a renewed promise from the Palestinian leader to try to curb the violence that has swept away the goodwill needed for an accord.
White House spokesman Jake Siewert said: "In the end, words don't matter here. Deeds do."
The Israeli prime minister, Ehud Barak, said his focus had now shifted from pursuing a negotiated settlement with Mr Arafat - which he said had "no real chance" - to containing terrorism.
"I think everyone understands that we have a very narrow window of opportunity here," Mr Siewart said. He did not claim any progress on inducing Mr Arafat to accept a US outline for a negotiated settlement, but added: "We are going to continue our work."
He said the meetings were useful and productive and said "we will have more discussion with the players in the region."
He said that thanks to Mr Clinton, Mr Arafat had "specifically agreed to end or stop or reduce acts of violence". Mr Arafat had promised cooperation in countering terrorism, to intensify efforts to stop the shootings and to arrest those responsible.
More than 350 people, mostly Palestinians, have died in violence in the Middle East in the last three months.
Hassan Abdel Rahman, chief representative of the Palestine Liberation Organisation in Washington, said the meetings had been useful. "There will be further discussions," he said. "
Palestinian officials said that Mr Arafat had concentrated on the issues of Jerusalem and Palestinian refugees, insisting also on reconfiguring the Palestinian state that would emerge from an accord.
Mr Barak has accepted President Clinton's outline for a settlement on condition that the Palestinian leader also agrees.
The US president-elect, George W Bush, said that Mr Clinton was "giving it the very best shot he can, and I certainly hope it works".
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Useful links
Yasser Arafat's office
Palestinian national authority
Ehud Barak's office
White House
Israeli government
Zo Artzeinu (Israeli settlers' group)
Organisation of Rabbis for the People of Israel
Hamas