JERUSALEM, July 22 (Xinhuanet) -- Visiting European Union (EU)foreign policy chief Javier Solana said Thursday that the separation fence should be built within Israeli territory.

    "A country has the right to build a fence on its own territory,but we believe the route of this fence is contrary to international law," Solana told a press conference after meeting with Israeli Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom in Tel Aviv.

    He said he knows the fence has saved lives, but it could also have saved lives if it had been constructed within Israel. He dismissed the contention that Europe is anti-Israel, saying "no single European country is against Israel."

    Solana's comments came just two days after the 25 EU member states infuriated Israeli leaders by supporting the UN General Assembly resolution calling on Israel to tear down the fence in compliance with the International Court of Justice's ruling issued earlier this month.

    Earlier Thursday, an Israeli official said Israel had decided to give Solana a "cold reception" during his visit to the country.

    Although Shalom met with Solana as planned, scheduled meetings and photo opportunities involving Solana and other Israeli government officials have been canceled.

    After the EU voted for the resolution, the Israeli Foreign Ministry issued a statement, saying the move raises doubts about the bloc's ability to contribute constructively to the advance of the Mideast peace process.

    Israel made clear to senior European officials at the United Nations headquarters earlier that "it will be very difficult in the future to include the EU as a party in efforts to advance the peace process."

    Solana is on a four-day regional tour to Egypt, Israel and Jordan, but he will not travel to meet Palestinian officials.Enditem