JERUSALEM: Israel’s foreign minister on Tuesday warned the Palestinians that a planned prisoner release will not happen as long as they pursue what he called a “provocative” bid to join UN agencies.

Avigdor Lieberman also accused the Palestinians of breaking the terms of the US-brokered peace talks, saying they should “pay a price” for this.

Lieberman said the final prisoner release was off the table unless the Palestinians reversed course on the UN bids. “We are in favor of negotiations but the previous offer about releasing prisoners doesn’t exist anymore,” Lieberman told Israel’s Army Radio on Tuesday.

Mohammed Ishtayeh, an aide to Abbas, said that the letters of accession will not be withdrawn and that the step is irreversible.