Washington (CNN) -- U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry is back in the Middle East where he plans to propose a framework for a lasting peace deal between Israel and the Palestinians, saying the time is close for tough decision-making. Kerry arrived in Tel Aviv on Thursday and immediately headed for Jerusalem, the start of his ninth trip to the region since taking over as America's top diplomat nearly a year ago. A senior State Department official said Kerry's talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas would be substantive. "It is an effort to provide agreed guidelines for a permanent status agreement, that is to say, a full and final peace treaty between the parties," the official said.
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NEW: "There is growing doubt in Israel" that Palestinians want peace, Netanyahu says
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Kerry will address issues with Israeli and Palestinian leaders in substantive way
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Talks this time are based on five months of intensive consultations with the leaders
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The United States appears to be taking a more muscular role in peace effort
He met with Netanyahu first, but the @placeholder leader was not optimistic in brief public remarks.