THE Israeli Government summoned the British and Dutch ambassadors and the European Commission’s head of mission yesterday to protest at European support for the United Nations General Assembly resolution on Tuesday night urging the demolition of parts of its controversial West Bank barrier.

The Israeli Government said that the European Union’s backing for the General Assembly resolution,passed by an overwhelming majority, raised doubts about its ability to play the role of a neutral broker in diplomatic efforts to promote peace through the “road map”.

An Israeli Foreign Ministry statement said: “Israel is particularly disappointed by the EU stand and the willingness to fall in with the Palestinian position. (It) raises doubts as to the ability of the EU to contibute anything to the diplomatic process.”

The Dutch hold the EU’s rotating presidency.

The resolution demanding that Israel tear down the barrier and compensate Palestinians in line with this month’s ruling by the International Court of Justice was approved 150-6.

The United States voted against, but Britain and the EU’s 24 other members all backed the resolution after last-minute changes that diluted the wording and added a condemnation of terrorism.

Palestinian leaders hailed the resolution as an “historic” victory, and hoped that it would ultimately lead to the UN Security Council imposing sanctions. In practice the US would almost certainly veto any such move.

Saeb Erekat, the Palestinians’ chief negotiator, urged the international community to exert maximum pressure on Israel to comply with both the resolution and the World Court ruling in The Hague that called for the demolition of sections of the fence that cut into the West Bank.

The vote was non-binding, and Israel shrugged it off. Raanan Gissin, an adviser to Ariel Sharon, the Prime Minister, said: “The building of the fence will go on. Israel will not stop building (the barrier) or abdicate its inalienable right to self-defence.”

The 425-mile line of trenches and electronic fences is designed to thwart Palestinian suicide bombers who have killed almost 1,000 civilians in four years of violence.

Dore Gold, an adviser to Mr Sharon, said: “What (the resolution) does is remove the defensive shield protecting Israeli citizens. But it does nothing to stop the sword of terrorism that has been drawn. That can only destabilise the situation here.”

Israel reiterated its position that the world court had no legitimacy to reach such a ruling, which like the UN resolution is not legally binding, but said there would be no hold-up to the fence that is now about a quarter complete.

The Palestinians consider the court ruling and UN resolution significant milestones that will bring pressure on Israel to rethink the fence, which cuts tens of thousands off from farmland, jobs, schools and hospitals. Mr Erekat added: “This is an historic resolution and we urge the international community to have Israel comply with the International Court of Justice ruling.

“The wall can’t stand. At the end of the day, you are either for international law or against it. There is nothing in between.”

Israel is adamant that it will be bound only by its Supreme Court which last month ruled that a planned 20-mile section northwest of Jerusalem be rerouted as it disproportionately infringed Palestinian human rights when set against Israeli security needs.

Military planners have spent several weeks devising a new path for parts of the fence in line with the Israeli court’s ruling.

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