Israelis, Palestinians May Meet in Moscow as Russia Flexes Mideast Muscle

Israeli and Palestinian leaders have agreed "in principle" to meet in Moscow for talks, according to the Russian Foreign Ministry.

The Russians hope the meeting will relaunch Mideast peace talks after a more than two-year break.

Russian spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said the meeting was confirmed by the offices of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

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"The most important thing is to pick the right timing," Zakharova told reporters. "Intensive contacts on this are ongoing."

It's not clear when any such meeting will happen. with Abbas and Netanyahu at odds on nearly every major issue between them, chances for substantial progress would seem slim.

Still, it's a sign that Russia continues to gain influence in the Mideast, advancing its own agenda as the Obama administration has decreased U.S. leadership in the region.