Kerry, Netanyahu expected to discuss U.N. Security Council proposal on Mideast peace timeline

ROME, Dec. 15 (UPI) -- Secretary of State John Kerry and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu were expected to discuss a proposed United Nations Security Council resolution at a meeting Monday in Rome.

The resolution, proposed by Palestinian officials and backed by Jordan, sets a November 2016 deadline for Israel to withdraw from Palestinian-sought land.

Palestinian Liberation Organization official Hanna Amira told Bloomberg the draft resolution would be presented to the U.N. on Wednesday.

Ahead of his meeting with Kerry on Monday, Netanyahu said he would reiterate that "Israel won't accept any unilateral, time-defined measures."

Kerry is scheduled to meet with Palestinian officials in London on Tuesday, where tensions are expected to be high."We are in a confrontation now with the U.S. because it doesn't support our U.N. Security Council move," Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad al-Maliki said Sunday in an interview with Voice of Palestine radio.

As for the U.S. role in such negotiations, Kerry told reporters during a recent trip to Bogota, "We're trying to figure out a way to help defuse tensions and reduce the potential for more conflict, and we're exploring various possibilities to that end, which is why I'm also meeting with Prime Minister Netanyahu."