Israel has rejected criticism from the European Union over its decision to cancel further troop withdrawals from the West Bank last week.

The EU had said the move contravened both the spirit and letter of the peace accord the two sides signed in October and known as the Wye River Memorandum.

A statement by the foreign ministry said the EU criticism reflects a completely false view of the situation.

It said Israel was ready to implement the accord, but that it was the Palestinians who had violated it.