OCCUPIED JERUSALEM, 31 January 2004 — Israel yesterday formally challenged the World Court’s right to rule on the legality of a huge barrier it is building in the West Bank, a Foreign Ministry official said.

“We believe the court should not and cannot deal with this political issue, which has to be dealt with by direct negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians,” the official said after Israel filed its affidavit.

But the Palestinian Authority insisted The Hague-based International Court of Justice had full jurisdiction and accused Israel of trying to politicize the case and perpetuate the “occupation of 3.5 million Palestinians against their will.”

With its legal challenge, Israel met a deadline for all interested parties to submit arguments by yesterday. Israel says the barrier is a security fence against suicide bombers. Palestinians call it a land grab that prejudges borders.

The tribunal, also known as the World Court, begins deliberations on the project on Feb. 23 in response to a UN General Assembly request to rule whether Israel is legally obliged to tear down the barrier.

The internationally criticized barrier cuts deep into land that Palestinians want for a state. The court has authorized the Arab League to take part in the proceedings in support of the Palestinians.

Israel says completed sections of razor wire and concrete are already keeping out suicide bombers. Palestinians call it an “Apartheid Wall” designed to loop around Jewish settlement blocs and seal a permanent hold on land Israel has occupied since the 1967 Middle East war.

Palestinian leaders have said construction of the barrier threatens an already-tattered US-backed “roadmap” to peace. But the Foreign Ministry official countered that it was the court’s involvement that would “directly damage” the peace plan.

Even the United States, Israel’s chief ally, has criticized the barrier’s route and pressed Israel to rethink it. Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon told ministers last week there would be no change “as a result of demands by the Palestinians or the United Nations... including the World Court.”