A decision by Israel's cabinet to approve plans for the controversial West Bank separation barrier has been criticised by European Foreign policy chief Mr Javier Solana.
Speaking in Israel today, Mr Solana was critical of yesterday's cabinet decision which will result in over 55,000 Palestinians being cut off from their city, making it more difficult for them to access the city's schools and hospitals.
Mr Solana said the wall will raise humanitarian problems for the Palestinians.
"We think that Israel has a right to defend itself but we think that the fence when it is done outside the territory of Israel is not legally proper, and it creates also humanitarian problems," Mr Solana said after meeting with Israeli Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom.
The Israeli cabinet yesterday approved final details of the Jerusalem barrier, which includes tens of thousands of Jewish West Bank settlers on the Jerusalem city side.
The International Court of Justice in The Hague ruled last July that the barrier Israel is building in the West Bank breaches international law and cannot be justified by Israel's security concerns.
Palestinian officials say Israel's main goal in building the barrier is not improving security but shifting the disputed city's demographic balance in favour of Jews.
Israel claims the barrier is only a temporary measure, to keep out suicide bombers, and that it is not drawing a final border around the city, part of which is claimed by the Palestinians as a future capital.
But Palestinians fear that Israel is unilaterally drawing its borders, by pulling out of Gaza, beefing up large West Bank settlement blocs and building the barrier around Jerusalem.
The 40-mile Jerusalem segment, which is halfway complete, does not run along the municipal boundaries. Instead, it meanders, cutting off four Arab neighbourhoods with some 55,000 residents, while including the Jewish West Bank settlement of Maaleh Adumim with 30,000 residents.
Palestinian officials say the barrier pre-empts the outcome of final peace talks because it cuts off east Jerusalem from the West Bank and also shifts the demographic balance in the city.