Israel cancels release of Palestinian prisonersApril 3, 2014 - 22:37 AMT 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. Related links: Top stories Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev arrived in Moscow on April 22 to hold talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". Partner news | Concept to complete Yerevan Cascade discussed at city hall A conceptual proposal to complete the Cascade complex in downtown Yerevan has been presented by Jean-Michel Wilmotte. Pashinyan visits flood-hit region Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on Saturday, June 8 visited the disaster area in the Lori province. €3.5 mln EU grant to support justice reforms in Armenia The European Union has paid €3.5 mln grant to Armenia within a €11mln program on Support to Justice Reforms. Yerevan reacts to Baku’s proposal to see Minsk Group abolition Alen Simonyan has declared that Armenia is taking steps aimed at concluding a peace treaty with Azerbaijan. |