Pod Save America Hosts Call on Democrats to Cut All Israel Military Aid, No Longer Accept AIPAC Funding
Jews, Israelis Targeted in Austria Amid Surge in Antisemitic Incidents; Local Jewish Community Calls for Action
‘All of Our Strength’: Over 1,000 Pro-Israel Activists Gather in DC for Solidarity Conference
‘Devastated’: Wesley LePatner, Killed in Manhattan Mass Shooting, Was a Jewish Communal, Philanthropic Leader
Sen. Angus King Vows to No Longer Vote for Israel Military Aid Until Gaza Conditions Improve
Europe Won’t Pressure Israel to ‘Commit Suicide’ Amid Gaza Backlash, Palestinian State Push, Says Israeli FM
Israel’s National Soccer Coach Attacked in Athens Before Soccer Fans Chant ‘F–K Israel, Free Palestine’ at Match
New York Judge Sentences Neo-Nazi to 5 Years for Livestreaming Bomb Threats Against Jewish Hospitals
US Pressures Lebanon to Issue Cabinet Decision to Disarm Hezbollah Before Talks Continue
UK Plans to Recognize Palestinian State in September Unless Israel Meets Conditions, Starmer Says
Palestinian Authority Threatens to Resume UN Campaign
Error: Contact form not found.
by Joshua Levitt
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas shakes hands with U.S. President Barack Obama, on March 17, 2014. Photo: Screenshot.
A lead negotiator for the Palestinian Authority in the ongoing U.S.-brokered peace talks with Israel on Tuesday threatened to resume a unilateral push for international legitimacy at the United Nations if the fourth and final agreed upon round of prisoners are not released, Egypt’s Al Ahram daily reported, citing the Associated Press.
Nabil Shaath said that if the prisoner release is called off, the Palestinians will “immediately” turn to the UN. According to reports, Israel is pushing for an agreement to extend the current round of talks beyond the April deadline, imposed by the U.S., and views the prisoner release as a carrot for advancing the talks rather than an end-goal.
At the start of the talks, in July, the government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pledged to release 104 prisoners, many of them convicted murderers and terrorists, in four stages as the talks progressed, with the final tranche to be released by March 29.
The prisoner releases have been very controversial in Israel, where Netanyahu was deeply criticized by members of his governing coalition and the families of the victims, for whom the murders of their loved ones remain open wounds.
Almagor, an NGO that advocates for victims of terrorism, has petitioned Israel’s High Court of Justice, demanding that it stop the government from releasing the prisoners, and held demonstrations carrying banners that read “Shame on You!“
