Court firm on Israel barrier case

Palestinians are calling for a day of protest against the barrier

The International Court of Justice has rejected a call by Israel to move a 30 January deadline for written arguments on the security barrier case.

The legality of the barrier is to be debated by the ICJ in February at the request of Arab states at the UN.

Israel says the barrier aims to block suicide bombers, but Palestinians say it is a way of grabbing land.

The decision came as Palestinians called for a day of protest to mark the start of the hearing.

The executive committee of the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) decided on Sunday to proclaim 23 February a "national day against the Israeli aggressions and the wall of apartheid and annexation".

The committee, which was chaired by Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, also urged Arab and other countries to take action against the construction of the wall.

Procedural focus

Following the ICJ's move, reported in the Jerusalem Post, Foreign Ministry spokesman Gideon Meir announced that written arguments would be submitted by the end of the week.

But the newspaper quoted another spokesman, Alan Baker, as saying Israel had not yet decided whether to present oral arguments.

It was waiting to see what arguments would be presented by UN members, Mr Baker said.

He added that Israel would focus on procedural arguments such as the court's alleged lack of authority to hear the case.

Experts say Israel is hoping to enlist support from other countries in this way.

Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon is expected to visit Washington before the case is heard to try to ease differences with the US over the barrier.