EU Hits Out at Israeli Fence

The European Union is to formally condemn Israel's controversial "security fence" in the occupied West Bank.

With relations strained anew by alleged anti-semitism in Europe, the Israeli foreign minister, Silvan Shalom, yesterday demanded a "more balanced" EU stance on the Middle East conflict. Meeting EU foreign ministers in Brussels, he insisted the fence was intended to keep out Palestinian suicide bombers and would be dismantled in the event of a peace settlement.

But in a strongly worded statement to be issued today, the EU says the fence could prevent the creation of a viable Palestinian state alongside Israel. It recognises Israel's right to protect itself from terrorist attacks, but urges it to avoid civilian casualties and to end extra-judicial killings.

Today's statement, marking the annual meeting of the EU-Israel Association Council, also demands an end to Israel's boycott of the EU's special envoy, Marc Otte, because of his contact with Yasser Arafat, the Palestinian president.

EU policy towards Israel has been complicated by the relatively favourable position adopted by the Italian leader, Silvio Berlusconi, who currently holds the union's rotating presidency. Ariel Sharon, the Israeli prime minister, flew to Rome yesterday to lobby Mr Berlusconi to ensure that the EU adopts a softer line.

Mr Sharon said last week that foreign criticism of Israel's "right to use force to defend itself" stemmed from a new type of anti-semitism that effectively denied Israel's "birthright to exist".

The Israeli government also said Saturday's suicide bomb attacks on two synagogues in Istanbul had to be seen "in the context of anti-Israel and anti-semitic remarks in Europe".

In Brussels, Mr Shalom raised the issue of a poll that showed 59% of EU citizens saw Israel as "a threat to peace in the world".

In France, meanwhile, the government said it would crack down on hate crimes after an arson attack on a Jewish school in a Paris suburb.