(VOVworld) – The Middle East peace process is likely to fail as Israel announced on Friday that it would not release the fourth batch of Palestinian prisoners as committed.

Palestinian prisoners at the Megiddo Prison. Photo by Itzik Ben-Malki

Palestinian officials Jibril Rajoub said Israel government made the announcement to US Middle East peace envoy Martin Indyk, one day prior to the commitment on prisoner release within the framework of US brokered peace process. Rajoub criticized the move saying this has destroyed Washington’s effort to resume the peace process. Palestinian Authority also accused Israel of creating new conditions in the negotiation process. But the spokesperson for the US Department of State Jen Psaki denied the information that the Middle East peace talks fail. She added that the mediators will continue to work with relevant parties to narrow the differences and work out the agenda for the next negotiation.