In a historic vote, the UN Security Council for the first time adopted a resolution specifically mentioning a Palestinian state yesterday.
The resolution, sponsored by the United States, was passed by 14 votes to none, with Syria, the sole Arab state with a seat on the council, abstaining.
The resolution demanded "immediate cessation of all acts of violence, including acts of terror, provocation, incitement and destruction," and called upon Israel and the Palestinians to take steps towards resuming peace talks.
Syria's ambassador to the United Nations, Mr Michael Wehbe, described the text as "a weak resolution" and said it did not deal with the question of Israeli occupation of Palestinian territory.
But the Palestinian observer to the UN, Mr Nasser al-Kidwa, said the resolution was important and that it "will help the situation on the ground."
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The resolution was adopted minutes before midnight in New York at the end of one the bloodiest days since the start almost 18 months ago of the Palestinian intifada, the uprising against Israeli occupation.
Earlier in the day, UN Secretary General Mr Kofi Annan made his strongest statement to date on the crisis which is now estimated to have claimed 1,513 lives, including 1,168 Palestinians and 339 Israelis.
In a speech to the council, Mr Annan noted that more than 180 Palestinians and well over 50 Israelis had died in the past 10 days alone.
"The situation is the worst in 10 years," he said. "Escalation has been met with escalation with little - in some cases no - regard for innocent civilian lives."
The council resolution began by "affirming a vision of a region where two states, Israel and Palestine, live side by side within secure and recognised borders."
It also welcomed "the contribution of Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah," who has proposed that Arab states offer "complete peace" in exchange for full Israeli withdrawal from occupied Arab land.
The proposal is expected to be high on the agenda at the March 27th - 28th Arab summit in Beirut, and Mr Amr Mussa, secretary general of the Arab League, has described it as a "last chance for peace" with Israel.
Mr Annan had urged Arab heads of state "not to give up on the search for peace but rather to unite in support of this vision".
It called upon Israelis and Palestinians to "cooperate in the implementation of the Tenet work plan and Mitchell Report recommendations with the aim of resuming negotiations on a political settlement."
And it expressed support for "the efforts of the secretary general and others to assist the parties to halt the violence and to resume the peace process."
AFP