UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called on parties concerned on Middle East issue on Monday to start a "renewed and irreversible drive" to settle the Israeli-Palestine conflict.

In an address to a Security Council open debate, Ban said the ultimate objective "remains the emergence of an independent democratic and viable Palestinian state living side-by-side in peace and security with Israel and a just, lasting and comprehensive peace in the region."

"Resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is fundamental for the well-being of both peoples, the region and the world," Ban said.

Saying that there is no progress on the two key UN resolutions on Middle East 1850 and 1860 in the past three months, Ban called on the council, the Quartet, states in Middle East, the international community, as well as himself as the secretary-general "each play full role" in resolving the issue.

He said U.S. President Barack Obama will host the Israeli and Palestinian leaders and key regional parties in Washington in a few weeks and expected the Quartet to meet soon to consult closely with members of the League of Arab States.

The Quartet, a diplomatic group of the United Nations, the European Union, Russia and the United State in search of the Middle East peace, hammered out a roadmap which calls for the peaceful coexistence of a secure Israel and an independent Palestinian state.

Ban also urged Israel to change its policy on "house demolitions, intensified settlement activity, settler violence, and oppressive movement restrictions" on Palestinian movement in the West Bank.

"The time has come for Israel to fundamentally change its policies in this regard as it has repeatedly promised to do, but not yet done," Ban told the open debate.

"Action on the ground, together with a genuine readiness to negotiate on all core issues, including Jerusalem, borders and refugees, based on Israel's existing commitments, will be the true tests of Israel's commitment to the two state solution," he said.

The Security Council's Monday meeting came at a time when the new Israeli government is led by Hawkish Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, whose country holds the rotating presidency of the 15-nation council this month, chaired the meeting, urging for prompt resumption of Middle East peace talks.

Also present at the open debate are British Foreign Minister David Miliband, French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner, Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu and their counterparts from other countries, as well as other council member envoys. Israel and Palestine are not invited to address the meeting.

(Xinhua News Agency May 12, 2009)