TEL AVIV, Israel -- The European Union's foreign policy chief said during a visit to Israel on Thursday that the Jewish state's West Bank separation barrier violates international law and would be just as effective if built on Israeli territory.

Javier Solana's comments came just two days after the 25-nation EU infuriated Israeli leaders by supporting a U.N. General Assembly resolution calling on Israel to tear down the barrier in compliance with a world court ruling.

"We have respect for the right of the country to construct a fence in its own territory but we do think that the route that the fence has taken is not one that is compatible with international law," Solana said during a joint news conference with Israeli Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom.

Moments earlier, Shalom said, "The government and people of Israel are deeply disappointed by Europe's decision to vote with the Palestinians and against the fence."

"The EU should be engaged in promoting Palestinian reform in Gaza and Ramallah, not Palestinian manipulation in the U.N.," Shalom said, adding that Europe's vote "encourages the Palestinians to continue their evasion of responsibility" on fighting terror.

The two men met for an hour before the news conference amid an atmosphere of rising tensions between Israel and Europe. Israeli media reported that Israel blamed France for persuading EU countries to support the U.N. resolution.

Israel has long accused the E.U. of being unbalanced and has pushed Europe to the sidelines of Israeli-Palestinian peacemaking efforts.

Earlier this month, Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon refused to meet with envoys from the so-called Quartet -- the United States, Europe, the United Nations and Russia. Sharon's spokesman said then that Israel would not discuss peacemaking or security issues with Europe.

Israel says the string of fences, walls and barbed wire that will eventually stretch 425 miles keeps out suicide bombers. Palestinians say the barrier is a land grab since it cuts into the West Bank at several points. About 100 miles of the barrier are built.

"The fence goes through occupied territories and from the very beginning we have been against that, it's no surprise," Solana said.

"The security of Israel and the protecting of the Israeli people is something we have always supported and we'll continue to support. I know that the fence has saved many lives but it would have saved as many lives if it would have been constructed inside Israel."

Israel's Foreign Ministry summoned European ambassadors for consultations Wednesday to express Israel's displeasure over the European position on the barrier.

Shalom said Israel had hoped the meetings with Solana would focus on improving Israeli-European relations, but they were redirected because of the U.N. vote.

"This visit is now taking place in the shadow of Europe's vote ... Much of our time today was spent in a frank discussion of the issue," Shalom said.

Solana had photo opportunities and meetings with Israeli government officials canceled Thursday. An Israeli official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Israel decided to give Solana an especially "difficult and cold reception."

The U.N. General Assembly overwhelmingly passed a resolution Tuesday calling on Israel to take down the barrier and comply with a nonbinding ruling issued earlier this month by the International Court of Justice in The Hague, Netherlands.

Israel has refused to comply to the world court ruling and the U.N. resolution. Neither of them are legally binding, but both have symbolic significance.