It took almost 3 years

[Boris Tatarenko]

It took almost 3 years, the absence of the Israeli former Foreign Minister, and a presidential visit from the American leader to resolve difference between Israel and Turkey.

I'm trying to translate the sentence above but the problem is I don't quite understand what it means. Could you throw some light on its vague meaning?

Update!

My girlfriend managed to explain the meaning to me :-D.

 

[Tdol]

My girlfriend managed to explain the meaning to me.

Please congratulate her on our behalf.

 

[Matthew Wai]

I don't understand it. Does it mean 'After almost three years, when the Israeli former Foreign Minister was absent, the American leader made a presidential visit to resolve differences between Israel and Turkey'?

 

[teechar]

No, Matthew.
It means resolving the differences between Israel and Turkey required all of:
1- Three years.
2- The absence of the former Israeli foreign minister.
3- A visit by the American president.

I would correct the following in the original:
"Israeli former Foreign Minister" ----> "former Israeli foreign minister"
"presidential visit from" ----> "presidential visit by"

 

[Matthew Wai]

'It took' = 'It needed'.
It needed conditions 1, 2, and 3 to do something.

Is that correct?

 

[teechar]

Yes, that's right.