UNITED NATIONS, Sept 22: Arab and Israeli officials laid out their position for a comprehensive, peaceful settlement of the Middle East conflict based mostly on the Quartet’s two-state concept, during a Thursday meeting of the UN Security Council.

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice reasserted US demand for a ‘true Palestinian commitment’ to the renunciation of terrorism, the recognition of Israel’s right to exist and previous obligations including the quartet’s so-called roadmap.

Ms Rice said Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, who attended the Security Council meeting on the situation of the region, and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert “are committed to peace”.

“I look forward to working with them, with the quartet partners and regional friends to bring about the conditions that will allow us to accelerate on the road map,” Rice said.

The Quartet is composed of the United Nations, the European Union, the United States and Russia. On Wednesday, Rice met with quartet representatives at UN headquarters, and the group issued a statement demanding implementation of the roadmap, which is intended to achieve a Palestine state living in peace next to Israel.

Mr Abbas was in New York to meet with government officials attending the UN General Assembly, including Rice and Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni.

He assured the Security Council that the Palestinian Authority would work to end the conflict with Israel.

“We are fully committed to peace and negotiations and for international legitimacy,” he said. “We are committed to the roadmap for peace.”

Israeli Ambassador to the UN Dan Gillerman told the Security Council that Livni and Abbas agreed that the roadmap should be the basis for ending the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Gillerman said the ‘true obstacle’ to peace is the Hamas party.