West Bank fence violates law, EU says

TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) -- During a visit to the Jewish state, EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana said today that Israel's West Bank separation barrier violates international law.
Solana's comments came just two days after the European Union infuriated Israeli leaders by supporting a U.N. General Assembly resolution calling on Israel to tear down the barrier in compliance with a world court ruling.
"A country has the right to build a fence on its own territory but we believe the route of this fence is contrary to international law," Solana said during a joint news conference with Israeli Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom.
"the government and people of Israel are deeply disappointed by Europe's decision to vote with the Palestinians and against the fence."
"The EU should be engaged in promoting Palestinian reform in Gaza and Ramallah, not Palestinian manipulation in the U.N.," Shalom said, adding that Europe's vote "encourages the Palestinians to continue their evasion of responsibility" on fighting terror.
The two men met for an hour before the news conference amid an atmosphere of rising tensions between Israel and Europe.
Israel says the string of fences, walls and barbed wire that will eventually stretch 425 miles keeps out suicide bombers. Palestinians say the construction of the barrier is a land grab since it cuts into the West Bank at several points.
"The fence goes through occupied territories and from the very beginning we have been against that, it's no surprise," he said.
"The security of Israel and the protecting of the Israeli people is something we have always supported and we'll continue to support," Solana added.