RAMALLAH, West Bank (AFP) - Moderate Mahmud Abbas was overwhelmingly endorsed by the Palestinian parliament as the first-ever Palestinian prime minister, reviving hopes of a breakthrough in Middle East peace efforts as killing continued in the territories. MPs approved the dovish new premier's cabinet line-up by a sweeping vote of 51-18, boosting expectations that the Palestinian Authority will finally deliver on pledges to curb violence and corruption and reform economic and political institutions. The move was seen by the international community as a vital step toward marginalising Yasser Arafat , accused by Israel of sponsoring terrorism, but key Palestinians stressed that the veteran Palestinian leader remained in charge. The White House immediately hailed the vote and reiterated its promise to publish the long-delayed "roadmap" -- an internationally drafted blueprint that would provide for the creation of a Palestinian state by 2005. "The president looks forward to working with the Palestinian Authority and the Palestinian people as well as the Israeli government and Israeli people to advance the cause of peace," said Ari Fleischer , spokesman for George W. Bush. "The United States will shortly release the roadmap formally to the various parties. Our hope is that they will work diligently and hard to advance the cause of peace, and we will welcome their contributions to the roadmap," he added. After weeks of wrangling between Abbas and his old companion-in-arms Arafat over the make-up of the new cabinet, the Palestinian leadership emerged jubilant from the lengthy session in Ramallah Tuesday evening. "I'm very happy with this democracy. I'm very happy for all those who voted for and against. I hope the government will live up to everybody's expectations," said Abbas, also known as Abu Mazen. "There is chance tonight that Palestinians and Israelis have a serious chance for re-engagement in the peace process," chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erakat told CNN television. "There is a chance to revive hope in the minds of Palestinians and Israelis which has been absent for the last two-and-a-half years. "I really hope that President Bush can introduce the roadmap immediately and without any further delay for the sake of Palestinain and Israelis," he said. The roadmap's publication has been delayed six times since it was drafted last December, causing mounting Palestinian frustration. But US Secretary of State Colin Powell , who delayed plans to visit Israel and the Palestinians within the next week, said he decided it was too early to press for its implementation. Abbas "has some work to do and I don't want to burden him with a visit on day one," Powell told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in Washington. Members of the Palestinian opposition complained that the new government was illegitimate and born only because of US pressure. Abbas, in a powerful and ambitious speech as the session opened, promised to tackle rampant Palestinian violence. However, he underscored Israel's responsibilities, stressing that it too must take major steps by dismantling Jewish settlements and agreeing to implement the roadmap without amendments. "There will be a real peace only without settlements. You have to choose," he said in a message to the Israeli people. "We reject terrorism from any party and in all its forms. We extend our hand in negotiation," he said. "To end the disorder and the chaos of weapons ... will be one of the main tasks of the government," Abbas said, adding that security forces alone would be allowed to carry weapons. Promising a pluralist society, he also said he would not tolerate incitement to violence, another key Israeli precondition for pushing ahead with the peace process. Israel gave a cautious welcome to the moderate, media-shy new premier's words, his first public declaration since being named on March 19. "The real test is what he does on the ground and not what he says," said Raanan Gissin, spokesman for Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon , who has offered to meet Abbas but refuses any peace talks until the violence ends. Abbas's call for a collection of unauthorised weapons met with flat rejection from hardline Islamist factions Hamas and Islamic Jihad and scepticism from some of his own supporters. "Hamas rejects this call to hand over our weapons because all our lives, in the Palestinian Authority, Hamas, Islamic Jihad, are in danger from the Israeli policy of assassination. We need to defend ourselves and our land," said Hamas leader Abdul Aziz al-Rantissi. Abbas also promised a much-needed assault on corruption, the strengthening of the judicial system and respect for the rule of law. For his part, Arafat said the Palestinian security forces were ready to take over if Israel withdrew its forces from areas reoccupied by the army since the conflict began, including most of the West Bank. Abbas' speech came against a backdrop of violence, with Israeli tanks and helicopters killing four Palestinians in the army's own crackdown on resistance leaders ahead of an expected international peace push. **PHOTO CAPTION*** Palestinian Prime Minister-designated Mahmud Abbas listens to Palestinina leader Yasser Arafat delivering a speech at the Palestinian Legislative Council (parliament) in the West Bank city of Ramallah.(AFP/Pedro Ugarte)