RAMALLAH, West Bank ? Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat swore in a new Palestinian Cabinet on Wednesday, getting the government he wanted after a long wrangle and setting the stage for a renewed push to enact the stalled, U.S.-backed “road map” peace plan.

The new government earlier won a vote of confidence from Palestinian legislators after Arafat — who appears to have survived the Israeli-American effort to sideline him — joined Prime Minister Ahmed Qureia in calling for an end to three years of violence that has claimed thousands of lives.

“The time has come between us and you Israelis … to get out of this cycle of destructive war,” Arafat said, referring to the violence ending efforts to stop Arab-Israeli enmity.

Israeli officials said they would give the new premier a chance to restore calm, and Islamic militant groups said they would consider a cease-fire. Officials on both sides said they expected Qureia and Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon to meet soon.

The approval of the Cabinet ended a two-month stalemate that stymied efforts to begin the peace plan accepted by both sides six months ago.

The plan authored by the United States, the United Nations, the European Union and Russia calls for an end to violence and the creation of a Palestinian state by 2005.

In the interim, Israel is to freeze settlement construction, and the Palestinian security forces are to dismantle militant groups — moves that have not occurred.

Qureia broke the stalemate Sunday by giving in to Arafat on the crucial question of who controls Palestinian security and police, leaving the veteran leader effectively in charge of most forces.

Parliament approved the Cabinet despite some lawmaker complaints it too closely resembled previous corrupt governments.

Israel and the United States, which accused Arafat of stoking terrorism, wanted the security agencies removed from his jurisdiction. Israel has backed down from claims in September it would “remove” Arafat.

Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qureia, left, gives a speech in Ramallah, in which he and Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat called for a cease-fire with Israel and a return to peace talks. Qureia issued the call Wednesday.