Sharon: West Bank wall building continues

Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon today ordered construction to continue on Israel’s West Bank separation barrier, brushing off a world court ruling that the structure is illegal.

He also vowed “to fight using all diplomatic and legal means” against the world court’s decision.

Sharon issued the instructions after a meeting with senior government ministers, security officials and the attorney general.

The International Court of Justice ruled on Friday that the barrier violated international law and ordered Israel to dismantle the structure.

Israel says the barrier is needed to block Palestinian attackers from entering the country.

Sharon said construction of the barrier would continue in line with a recent ruling by Israel's Supreme Court.

About one quarter of the planned 425-mile barrier has been built.

The Israeli court ordered the government to modify the route of the barrier to cause less hardship on the Palestinians.

But it did uphold Israel’s claim that the barrier was a defensive measure, and not a political tactic aimed at permanently redrawing its borders.

Sharon asked Attorney General Meni Mazuz and Justice Ministry officials to analyse the world court’s ruling and provide him with recommendations on how to proceed, his office said.

Israel has already turned to the United States for help at the United Nations in blocking Palestinian attempts to force Israel to comply with the ruling.

As a permanent member of the UN Security Council, Washington has often vetoed resolutions critical of Israel.