November 20, 2003	Thursday	Ramazan 24, 1424

UNITED NATIONS, Nov 19: In a bid to revive the flagging hopes for a settlement in the Middle East, the UN Security Council on Wednesday passed a Russian-backed resolution endorsing the “road map” plan for peace.

Despite strong objections from Israel and initial opposition from the United States, the council voted unanimously to put its stamp of approval on the ambitious plan, which envisions a Palestinian state by 2005.

The road map, which also requires the Palestinians to give Israel security guarantees, was unveiled by the “quartet” of peace advisors — the United States, European Union, United Nations and Russia — earlier this year.

Amid the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian violence, however, the plan has foundered and talks between the two sides have been broken off for months.

Israel was opposed to a formal council resolution on the road map but in a visit to Moscow two weeks ago, Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon failed to convince Russian President Vladimir Putin to abandon the measure.

The United States had also originally been against the resolution, arguing that the council should wait until the new government of Palestinian prime minister Ahmed Qorei had been formed.—AFP