“Israel” Defies Prisoner Release Despite Agreement

Local Editor

"Israeli" Minister for Foreign Affairs Avigdor Lieberman said Tel Aviv will not release a fourth group of Palestinian prisoners despite an earlier agreement, unless the Palestinian Authority drops its bid to join more UN agencies, as he told "Israeli" media on Tuesday.

Lieberman said on Tuesday that the Tel Aviv regime's "previous offer about releasing prisoners doesn't exist anymore," as long as the Palestinian Authority seeks to join 15 international organizations and conventions.
He stated that the Palestinians should "pay the price" for the move, adding that, "Whoever broke the rules has to bear responsibility... therefore the previous offer is not relevant anymore."

"Israeli" Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has also threatened to take unilateral measures against the Palestinian Authority, unless it abandons plans to join the international agencies and treaties.

The "Israeli"-PA talks reached a new deadlock when the Tel Aviv regime refused to free the last group of 104 Palestinian prisoners in late March, as part of a deal for the resumption of US-sponsored negotiations.

The refusal prompted Palestinian Authority chief, Mahmoud Abbas, to respond by signing letters of accession to 15 international conventions on April 1.
On Monday, Mohammed Shtayyeh, an aide to Abbas, said that the letters of accession would not be withdrawn and that the step is irreversible, stressing that Palestinians were ready to widen their bid.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team