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Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak
Despite heavy US pressure, efforts to revive Middle East peace talks, suspended for more than a year, have so far failed as the Palestinians have demanded a complete freeze of Israeli settlement construction.
Barak said the sides might engage in "proximity talks" -- indirect negotiations mediated by the United States.
"At the moment we are talking about proximity talks ... This is only a first stage after which we will have to find, together with the Palestinians and with international support, a way to move forward to full negotiations," Barak said.
"The negotiations will take time, I assume no less than a year or two. The implementation could take another three years," the former prime minister said.
In November, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced a halt to new settlement construction that was rejected by the Palestinians because it excluded annexed Arab east Jerusalem as well as public buildings and projects already under way.
Peace talks last broke down after Israel launched a deadly offensive in the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip in December 2008.
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Barak said the sides might engage in "proximity talks" -- indirect negotiations mediated by the United States.
"At the moment we are talking about proximity talks ... This is only a first stage after which we will have to find, together with the Palestinians and with international support, a way to move forward to full negotiations," Barak said.
"The negotiations will take time, I assume no less than a year or two. The implementation could take another three years," the former prime minister said.
In November, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced a halt to new settlement construction that was rejected by the Palestinians because it excluded annexed Arab east Jerusalem as well as public buildings and projects already under way.
Peace talks last broke down after Israel launched a deadly offensive in the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip in December 2008.
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