A/RES/61/25 a threat to international peace and security, to a speedy conclusion, thereby establishing a just and lasting peace in the region, 5 1. Reaffirms the necessity of achieving a peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine, the core of the Arab-Israeli conflict, in all its aspects, and of intensifying all efforts towards that end; Also reaffirms its full support for the Middle East peace process, which 2. began in Madrid, and the existing agreements between the Israeli and Palestinian sides, stresses the necessity for the establishment of a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the Middle East, and welcomes in this regard the ongoing efforts of the Quartet; Welcomes the Arab Peace Initiative adopted by the Council of the League 3. of Arab States at its fourteenth session, held in Beirut on 27 and 28 March 2002; 6 4. Calls upon the parties themselves, with the support of the Quartet and other interested parties, to exert all efforts necessary to halt the deterioration of the situation, to reverse all measures taken on the ground since 28 September 2000 and to immediately resume direct peace negotiations towards the conclusion of a final peaceful settlement on the basis of relevant United Nations resolutions, especially from the Security Council, the Arab Peace Initiative, the terms of reference of the Madrid Conference and the road map;4 5. Calls upon the Quartet, together with the international community, to take immediate steps, including confidence-building measures between the parties, aimed at stabilizing the situation and restarting the peace process; Stresses the need for a speedy end to the reoccupation of Palestinian 6. population centres and for the complete cessation of all acts of violence, including military attacks, destruction and acts of terror; Also stresses the need for the immediate implementation of the Sharm 7. el-Sheikh understandings; 8. Calls upon both parties to fulfil their obligations in respect of the implementation of the road map by taking parallel and reciprocal steps in this regard, and stresses the importance and urgency of establishing a credible and effective third-party monitoring mechanism, including all members of the Quartet; Notes the Israeli withdrawal from within the Gaza Strip and parts of the 9. northern West Bank and the dismantlement of the settlements therein as a step towards the implementation of the road map; 10. Emphasizes the need for the parties, with the help of the international community, speedily and fully to resolve all remaining issues in the Gaza Strip, including a durable arrangement for the border crossings, the airport, the construction of the seaport, the removal of the rubble and the establishment of a permanent physical link between the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, and stresses also the need for the full implementation by both parties of the Agreement on Movement and Access and the Agreed Principles for the Rafah Crossing, of 15 November 2005; _______________ 5 6 4 See A/ES-10/273 and Corr.1, advisory opinion, para. 161. A/56/1026-S/2002/932, annex II, resolution 14/221.