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U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell says Hamas and other militant Palestinian groups must not be allowed to prevail in their efforts to stop the peace process with Israel.

In a joint news conference with Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon after they met Friday in Jerusalem, Mr. Powell said Hamas has shown itself to be an "enemy of peace," by carrying out terrorist acts since a peace summit two weeks ago in Jordan.

Mr. Sharon said the Palestinian Authority must take responsibility for stopping the violence. Until then, he added, Israel will continue with operations to stop militants' attacks on Israelis.

Even as Mr. Powell and Mr. Sharon met, Israelis say gunmen opened fire on a car carrying Jewish settlers near the West Bank city of Ramallah, killing one of the Israelis and wounding three others. In the latest U.S. push for progress in the internationally-backed "road map" to peace, Secretary Powell is also meeting with Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas later Friday, during a visit to the West Bank town of Jericho. During his flight to the Middle East Thursday, Secretary Powell downplayed chances for any breakthrough in Friday's talks, but said he would do everything possible to press both sides to move to resolve their differences quickly.

Some information for this report provided by AFP and Reuters.