Israel has canceled its previously postponed release of 26 Palestinian prisoners in the latest blow to faltering Mideast peace talks, saying the move was a response to renewed efforts by Palestinians to gain recognition at the United Nations, the Newsmax World website reports today (April 3, 2014).
Justice Minister Tzipi Livni -- one of Israel's two chief negotiators -- told Palestinian counterpart Saeb Erekat of the decision in a meeting earlier today, an Israeli official said, speaking on condition of anonymity because of the delicacy of the talks.
Ziad Abu Ein -- the Palestinian Authority's deputy minister for prisoner affairs -- said halting the release "closes all doors to further peace opportunities, and it's a blow to the American efforts that have been exerted till this moment."
Israel has freed three previous groups of prisoners since U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry brought the two sides back to the negotiating table in July, but missed a deadline at the end of April for a fourth and final release to which it had agreed. Because Israel failed to release the fourth group of Palestinian prisoners by the deadline, the Palestinian Authority retaliated against Israel by applying at the United Nations to join 15 international treaties and conventions.
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