The Annapolis conference drew 44 nations, including Israel's neighboring Arab states whose support is considered vital to any peace agreement. A joint understanding between the Israelis and Palestinians, in doubt until the last minute, was salvaged and Abbas and Olmert reiterated their desire to reach a peace settlement by the end of next year.

Qatar's UN Ambassador Nassir Al-Nasser, the only Arab member of the Security Council, told reporters "we are happy with the language as it is in the U.S. draft resolution."

"I am happy that the council is dealing with this issue," he said. "For me, this is the main thing."

The draft resolution affirmed the Security Council's vision of a region wher...

The Annapolis conference drew 44 nations, including Israel's neighboring Arab states whose support is considered vital to any peace agreement. A joint understanding between the Israelis and Palestinians, in doubt until the last minute, was salvaged and Abbas and Olmert reiterated their desire to reach a peace settlement by the end of next year.

Qatar's UN Ambassador Nassir Al-Nasser, the only Arab member of the Security Council, told reporters "we are happy with the language as it is in the U.S. draft resolution."

"I am happy that the council is dealing with this issue," he said. "For me, this is the main thing."

The draft resolution affirmed the Security Council's vision of a region where two states, Israel and Palestine, live side by side within secure and recognized borders.

It welcomed the diplomatic efforts at the Annapolis conference to realize this vision as a concrete step towards a comprehensive Middle East peace, and also endorsed the program of action for negotiations and implementation of outstanding obligations pursuant to the road map peace plan agreed upon by the Israeli and Palestinian leadership at Annapolis, Maryland on Nov. 27, 2007.