JERUSALEM
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday instructed all government ministries to cease civilian and economic cooperation with the Palestinian Authority, Israeli daily The Jerusalem Post reported.
An Israeli government official was quoted by the paper as saying that the move came in response to "Palestinian violations."
According to the paper, Israeli government ministers were asked to refrain from meeting their Palestinian counterparts.
Yet the order does not apply to Defense Ministry cooperation with the Palestinians or Justice Minister Tzipi Livni, who is Israel's top negotiator in ongoing U.S.-sponsored peace talks with the Palestinians.
Prospects for an imminent peace deal between Israeland the Palestinians appeared to crumble late last month after Israel refused to release 26 Palestinian prisoners despite earlier pledges to do so.
In retaliation, Abbas formally applied for Palestinian membership in 15 U.N. conventions.
The latest developments come only a few weeks before an April 29 negotiation deadline for the U.S.-sponsored talks.
Last Friday, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said his administration would "evaluate" its role in the peace process, complaining that both sides of the conflict had recently taken unhelpful steps, thus driving Washington to reconsider its position.
englishnews@aa.com.tr
