Israel minister: Peace talks deadline may be extended

[Jefferson23]

JERUSALEM (AFP) -- Middle East peace talks could be extended beyond their April deadline, Israel's defense minister said Tuesday, insisting current negotiations were aimed solely at providing a framework for final talks.

The remarks came a day after US Secretary of State John Kerry left following four days of intense meetings with Israeli and Palestinian leaders, during which he failed to broker agreement on a framework to guide the talks forward.

"We are now trying to reach a framework to continue negotiations for a period beyond the nine months some thought would suffice for reaching a permanent accord," Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon told reporters during a tour of a military base.

"We are not working on a framework agreement, but on a framework for negotiations, for continuing negotiations for a longer period," Yaalon was quoted as saying in a statement from his office.

http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=663467

[R. Daneel Olivaw]

1. The only framework that the Israelis are working hard on are

the framework on new illegal settlements.