Israel defied a world court ruling against its West Bank barrier by ordering building work to continue on Sunday as the Palestinians decided to hold off pushing for a UN resolution against the structure until after the US presidential elections.
The order to continue building the 700-kilometre (430-mile) barrier followed ministerial consultations some 48 hours after the Hague-based International Court of Justice delivered a non-binding verdict that the barrier contravened international law and parts already built on Palestinian land should be dismantled.
"Prime Minister (Ariel) Sharon directed that construction of the separation fence continue in accordance with the guidelines determined in the high court of justices' decision on June 30 and that the struggle against the opinion of the ICJ be continued by all diplomatic and legal means," a statement from the premier's office said.
"Prime Minister Sharon asked Attorney General (Menachem) Mazuz and justice ministry representatives to present him with a legal analysis of the ICJ's opinion as soon as possible, as well as recommendations regarding what steps - including legal - the political leadership might take."
Judges at Israel's highest court ruled late last month that part of the barrier - a montage of electric fencing, barbed wire and concrete wall - should be rerouted north of Jerusalem because it infringed the rights of some 35,000 Palestinian inhabitants.
But the supreme court also confirmed in effect the government's right to build the barrier on security grounds.
Sharon had earlier told the weekly cabinet session that he had no intention of paying heed to the ICJ decision, saying that a deadly bomb attack in Tel Aviv in the morning had been carried out "under the patronage" of the court's verdict.
"The ruling totally ignores the reason behind the construction of the security barrier which is Palestinian terrorism," he told his ministers.
"It is not without reason that the Palestinians are fighting against construction of the fence. They are well aware that completion of the fence will make it very difficult for them to continue with their acts of murder."
The Palestinians meanwhile decided to hold off pushing for a UN resolution against the barrier until after November's US presidential elections.
"We decided that it was not wise now to go to the Security Council because we don't want to incite the Americans, especially during the election campaign and it's better to wait until after the elections," one minister, speaking on condition of anonymity, said after a meeting chaired by Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat.
Sharon's chief spokesman said that the government was confident that the United States would use its veto if the Security Council was asked to consider a resolution to enforce the court's verdict.
"I think we have assurances from the United States that it will exercise its veto power if this one-sided resolution reaches the Security Council," Ranaan Gissin told AFP.
"Israel will not comply with this unjust decision which strips Israelis of their bullet-proof vest against terrorist attacks."
UN Secretary General Kofi Annan said Sunday that Israel should abide by international law as interpreted by the court.
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