国际英语新闻：UN chief urges restraint during Israeli-Palestinian proximity talks

"I know the Arab countries are frustrated and they have expressed their concerns and reluctance in supporting these proximity talks," he said. "I have been engaging in bilateral talks with many Arab leaders advising and appealing to them to support this dialogue process."

Within two years, Israel and Palestine should resolve all final status issues, said Ban, who just returned from a visit in the Middle East after the Quartet meeting in Moscow last Friday.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon briefs his recent visit to the Middle East during a Security Council meeting at the UN headquarters in New York, the United States, March 24, 2010.

As time is short, said Ban, the proximity talks should be held without preconditions and both parties should be ready to discuss "all the core substantive issues."

"I can only encourage the parties involved to engage in dialogue with sincerity, a sense of flexibility and political will, " he said.