Israel cancels release of Palestinian prisoners

PanARMENIAN.Net - Israel has cancelled the release of a fourth group of Palestinian prisoners over the Palestinian leadership's pursuit of further UN recognition, BBC News reported.

Israeli Justice Minister Tzipi Livni said Palestinian actions violated the terms for the release, which was part of a fitful U.S.-backed peace process.

Israel now wants the process to be reviewed, Livni's spokeswoman said.

Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas has applied to 15 UN conventions, accusing Israel of backtracking on its promises.

An Israeli spokesperson told the BBC the decision to cancel the release had been communicated to the Palestinians in an overnight meeting.

Livni urged the Palestinians to avoid unilateral measures and return to the negotiating table, the spokesperson said.

The previous three releases of Palestinian prisoners were deeply unpopular with the Israeli public because many of those freed had been convicted of murdering Israelis.

Many Palestinians, however, regard the prisoners as heroes and have celebrated their release from Israeli custody.

The deadlock over the prisoners casts fresh doubt over peace efforts overseen by US Secretary of State John Kerry.