The impasse over the prisoners throws further doubts about the outcome of the US-led peace negotiations headed by US secretary of state John Kerry. The talks had been scheduled to last until late April, but now both sides appear to have hardened their positions while questioning the effectiveness of Mr Kerry’s efforts.
The office of Tzipi Livni, the chief Israeli negotiator, said the Palestinian decision to seek accessions to 15 international conventions through the UN violated the terms set for the prisoners’ release.
That comes as Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas described their UN move as a response to Israel’s failure to release prisoners as promised at the end of March.
Ms Livni told the Palestinian negotiating team that the prisoner release was contingent on the Palestinians refraining from making unilateral moves. She said that “new conditions were established and Israel cannot release the fourth batch of prisoners”.
As part of the terms for returning to negotiations in late July, Mr Abbas had promised to suspend Palestinian membership applications to UN agencies and international conventions. Israel had, in turn, pledged to release 104 long-held Palestinian prisoners during the talks.
Speaking earlier on Thursday during a visit to Algeria, Mr Kerry vowed to continue his efforts towards peace “no matter what”.
“You can facilitate, you can push, you can nudge, but the parties themselves have to make fundamental decisions and compromises,” he said.
He recalled the adage that you can lead a horse to water but cannot make it drink.
“Now is the time to drink,” Mr Kerry said. “The leaders need to know that.”
* Associated Press
