United Nations ? The U.N. Security Council told Hamas on Friday that a future Palestinian government must recognize Israel and commit itself to a negotiated settlement of the Mideast conflict culminating in two independent states living in peace.

In its first comment on the militant Islamic group’s surprise victory in the Jan. 25 Palestinian vote, the council congratulated the Palestinian people “on an electoral process that was free, fair and secure.”

The council welcomed the commitment by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, whose Fatah Party was defeated, to the roadmap to peace drafted by the United Nations, the United States, the European Union and Russia.

Leaders from Hamas and the ruling Fatah party have met twice in recent days to discuss the formation of a new government. Hamas has said it would like Fatah to join in a coalition, but senior Fatah leaders said they preferred to stay in the opposition.