Israel reportedly hopes that a protracted timetable would test the viability of a peace deal by gradually building confidence that its security needs would be met even as it withdrew from territory that would become part of a Palestinian state.
Israel Hayom, a pro-government newspaper controlled by allies of Mr Netanyahu, said Palestinian officials were deeply opposed to dragging out the implementation phase for decades. It quoted an associate of Mr Abbas as saying that the proposal was proof "that Netanyahu wants to buy time."