The measure endorses the performance-based peace plan, formulated by the "quartet" of advisers on the Middle East -- Russia, the United States, the European Union and the United Nations. It "calls on the parties to fulfill their obligations under the road map in cooperation with the quartet and to achieve the vision of two states."

Moscow's UN ambassador, Sergei Lavrov, first circulated the resolution late last month and introduced it to the 15-member council on Monday, after which the United States made some minor changes.

Israel believes such a resolution is unnecessary and does not want UN involvement in the peace process.

But Russia, frustrated by the continuing violence between Israel and the Palestinians and the lack of peace talks, insisted it wanted to breathe life back into the "road map" Moscow helped design a year ago.

The United States had hesitated in backing the resolution, arguing that the timing was not right. Another envoy said the resolution might leave the council "open to charges of blessing something that is dead."

The road map lays out steps the two sides should take toward setting up a Palestinian state by 2005. It has been derailed by months of violence and Israeli demands the Palestinian Authority (news - web sites) crack down on militants.

Israeli officials said on Tuesday that Prime Minister Ariel Sharon (news - web sites) would meet the new Palestinian prime minister, Ahmed Qurie, next week, although no date was set.

Lavrov said earlier he had introduced the resolution because the council had to show the new Palestinian government it had UN support for what it needs from the Israelis and to tell Palestinians they had obligations "to implement on the ground which would be for security improvement."

Sharon, during a visit to Moscow in early November, tried to persuade Russian President Vladimir Putin to drop the quest for a resolution. The Russian president was reported to be considering it but then went along with his foreign minister, Igor Ivanov, to push the measure.