STRASBOURG, 12 February 2004 — The European Union yesterday condemned Israel’s construction of a security barrier on the West Bank but restated its opposition to a UN challenge to the wall at the world court in The Hague.

Irish Europe Minister Dick Roche, whose country holds the EU’s rotating presidency, said construction of a barrier “which extends deep into Palestinian territories is a major obstacle to progress and to peace in that region”.

Addressing the European Parliament, Roche said Israel’s attitude over the issue was “regrettably uncompromising”. But the Irish minister reaffirmed the EU’s stand against a decision by the UN General Assembly to ask the International Court of Justice to rule on the barrier’s legality. The ICJ is due to start hearings on Feb. 23.

Roche said the EU still believed the barrier contravened international law, but said many member states also felt that going to court will “do nothing to advance the political process which is necessary for peace”.

Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qorei said during a visit to Italy yesterday that the barrier represented “a danger not only for the Palestinian population but the security of the Arab nation and of the entire region”.

But Israel counters that the barrier is essential to keep its citizens safe from Palestinian bombers. Roche acknowledged that prospects for quick progress in the peace process “are not overly encouraging”, as Israeli troops killed 14 Palestinians in fierce clashes in the Gaza Strip. But he welcomed “some small signs of hope”.

Roche said the EU, for its part, would continue to promote the stalled “road map” for peace backed also by the United States, which envisages a Palestinian state next year.

He said the Irish presidency would “make every attempt to take the road map forward and to convince the parties to the conflict to make the necessary efforts to achieve a comprehensive and lasting peace”.

In Rome, Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini yesterday told Palestinian Prime Minister Qorei he would call on Israel to reconsider building its barrier in the occupied territories.

Addressing reporters after a meeting, Frattini said Italy was against the so-called security fence.

“We will talk with Israel and recommend a total re-think of this project,” Frattini said.

Frattini also said Italy would encourage the Palestinian Authority in its attempt to pass institutional reforms, “whose primary objective should be the dismantling of terrorist activities”.

Qorei, who is touring European capitals for support, thanked Italy for its opposition to the wall, saying that “being against the wall means being for peace”.

In Moscow, Russia and Jordan urged Israel and the Palestinian Authority yesterday against taking any unilateral measures which would block the implementation of a “road map” blueprint for peace in the Middle East.

“Any steps taken in the context of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict must be based exclusively on the road map,” Jordanian Foreign Minister Marwan Moasher told reporters after meeting Russian counterpart Igor Ivanov.