Israel activates economic sanctions against Palestinians

JERUSALEM — The Israeli government began implementing the economic sanctions it imposed on the Palestinian Authority after the Palestinians applied for several U.N. conventions, according to Israeli Yediot Ahronot news website. The move to go ahead with the penalties came on the same day originally set by the U.S. mediators as a deadline for peace talks between the Israelis and the Palestinians.

The talks hit a new snag in March after Israel refused to release 26 Palestinian prisoners despite earlier pledges to do so.

In retaliation, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas formally applied for Palestinian membership in 15 U.N. conventions. Peace talks between Israeli and Palestinian negotiators resumed in Washington last July after a nearly threeyear hiatus. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu suspended the talks after the Fatah movement of Abbas signed a reconciliation deal with rival Hamas last week.