Israeli PM instructs ministers to halt peace talks

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has told his ministers to stop holding meetings and talks with their Palestinian counterparts, a government official said.

The move is in response to what Israel has called a “provocative” Palestinian bid to join UN agencies, the official said.

Israel blames the Palestinians for the current disarray in the US-brokered peace talks.

Under Mr Netanyahu’s order, cabinet ministers and their ministry directors can no longer meet Palestinian counterparts, though lower-level contacts will continue. The sides frequently work on day-to-day issues such as the environment and security.

Israel’s chief peace negotiator, Tzipi Livni, will be an exception from Mr Netanyahu’s order, the government official said.