Only 2 yrs left for Mideast deal: Kerry

US Secretary of State John Kerry warned Wednesday that time was slipping away to reach a Middle East peace deal, stressing for the first time that there may only be a year or two left.
Appearing before US lawmakers for the first time since becoming America's top diplomat in February, Kerry said his three trips to the region already were proof of his commitment to try to find a way to resume peace talks.
The Obama administration is "trying to find out what is possible," Kerry told the House Foreign Affairs Committee, as he laid out the State Department's priorities for the 2014 budget.
He stressed he had no plan so far to present to Congress "because we're in the process of working that out with the critical parties."
"But I can guarantee you that I am committed to this, because I believe the window for a two-state solution is shutting. I think we have some period of time -- a year to year-and-a-half to two years -- or it's over," Kerry warned.
The top US diplomat is currently working on a plan to try to boost the Palestinian economy as part of efforts to restore trust between the two sides.