United Nations: Palestine has threatened to seek sanctions against Israel if it fails to comply with a International Court of Justice ruling to dismantle the West Bank barrier and called on the UN General Assembly and the Security Council to force Tel Aviv to implement the verdict.

Palestinians are calling for a resolution accepting the court ruling and demanding Israeli compliance. The proposal was presented a week after the world court declared the barrier illegal.

"While we are at the early stages of following up the advisory opinion (of the Court), it is not too early to begin thinking about such options, particularly in the light of Israel's immediate negative response in this regard," its Permanent Observer Nasser al-Kidwa said yesterday (Jul 16, 2004).

After a day-long discussion on the issue, the 191-member General Assembly deferred at least till Monday a vote on a resolution asking Israel to comply with the Court's ruling as Palestinians and Arabs held consultations with European Union (EU) in an effort to get its support.

Arabs have enough votes to get the resolution through without the support EU but its support would strengthen their case.

Rejecting the Palestinian arguments, Israeli UN Ambassador Dan Gillerman accused them of trying to politicize and manipulate the Court.

The Court, he said, does not rule out the authority to erect a fence in the West Bank.