CAIRO, July 21 (AFP) - Arab nations on Wednesday urged the United Nations to take action against Israel to force it to abide by a General Assembly resolution calling for its controversial West Bank barrier to be pulled down.
The Palestinians hailed as a landmark diplomatic victory a vote in the UN General Assembly that overwhelmingly backed a world court ruling declaring the barrier in breach of international law.
The resolution, which packs more symbolic than practical weight although it was backed by 150 votes to six, demanded that Israel obey the decision of the UN's International Court of Justice -- which Prime Minister Sharon has already said it will ignore.
Israel's archfoe Syria, which is home to a number of Palestinian groups, suggested that sanctions should be used against the Jewish state to force it to comply.
"The international community could launch discussions to impose sanctions against Israel and force it to abide by international resolutions," state-run Radio Damascus said.
"(Israel's reaction) shows once again how much they defy international law," the radio said.
Israel says the uncompleted 425-mile (700-kilometre) barrier of concrete and barbed wire has cut Palestinian terror attacks by 90 percent, and has rejected accusations that sections built on West Bank territory amount to a land grab.
Egypt, which has long played a role of Middle East peace broker, said the General Assembly vote was a "clear message from the international community that it rejects Israel's actions against the Palestinian people and its violation of international law and legitimacy.".
"The resolution provides an opportunity for the United Nations to look into measures to dismantle the wall," Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul Gheit said.
Jordan, which along with Egypt is the only Arab state to have signed a peace treaty with Israel, also hailed the vote.
Foreign Minister Marwan Moasher highlighted the fact that the overwhelming majority of UN members had backed the resolution, particularly the newly enlarged 25 member European Union.