The Palestinians and Israel promised on Sunday to carry on the peace negotiations resumed a year ago at a U.S.-hosted Mideast conference, although a deal is not likely to be reached by the end of this year as expected.

The promise was made by the two sides in a statement issued after a meeting of the international Quartet held in the Egyptian Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas (R) shakes hands with Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni before their meeting in Egyptian Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh on Nov. 9, 2008. Abbas and Livni held closed-door talks here on the sidelines of the Middle East Quartet Principals Meeting on Nov. 9, 2008. [Xinhua Photo]

The Palestinians and Israel reaffirmed their commitment to "vigorous, ongoing and continuous negotiations in order to conclude a peace treaty resolving all outstanding issues," said the statement.

According to the statement, the two sides called on the international Quartet and the international community to continue their support to the peace negotiations that achieved few tangible results in the past year.

During the meeting, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni briefed the Quartet developments of the Palestinian-Israeli talks.

"President Abbas and Minister Livni ... requested continued support from the Quartet and all members of the international community," said the statement.

The international Quartet, which groups the United States, the European Union, the United Nations and Russia, evaluated developments of the Mideast peace process, particularly peace negotiations between the Palestinians and Israel.

At the U.S.-hosted Annapolis conference on Mideast peace last November, Palestinian and Israeli leaders pledged to try to reach a peace agreement by the end of 2008.

As time went on, the U.S. administration admitted that it's unlikely for the two sides to reach a deal by the year's end.

On Thursday, White House spokeswoman Dana Perino said "we do not think that it's likely" when asked if there is any possibility for Israel and the Palestinian National Authority to reach a peace agreement before the end of the year.

Perino's remarks came as U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice arrived in Israel at the start of a four-leg Middle East trip, trying to push Israel and the Palestinians to adopt the outlines of a peace deal.

Rice arrived in the Egyptian Red Sea resort on Saturday to take part in the Quartet meeting, which was also attended by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana and Quartet envoy Tony Blair.

In the statement, the Quartet reiterated its commitment to supporting the Palestinian-Israeli talks, calling on the two sides to continue their talks.

The Quartet emphasized in the statement the importance of continuity of the peace process.

"Without minimizing the gaps and obstacles that remain, the representatives of the parties shared their assessment that the present negotiations are substantial and promising," the statement said, adding "they have succeeded in putting in place a solid negotiation structure for continued progress in the future."

The Quartet called on the parties concerned to assist in the development of Palestinian economy and "contribute to the Palestinian institution-building program in preparation for statehood."

It also calls for a suspension of Israel's settlement activities in disputed lands and dismantling "the infrastructure of terrorism."

As for further international efforts on the Palestinian-Israeli talks, the Quartet said it could be an appropriate time to hold an international meeting in Moscow in the spring of 2009.

(Xinhua News Agency November 10, 2008)