The World Council of Churches (WCC) on Friday called on Israel to stop "and reverse" the building of a controversial separation barrier in the West Bank.
The council, which brings together more than 300 Christian churches outside the Roman Catholic movement, said the barrier violated both the UN Charter and international law.
The WCC, which has just ended a three-day meeting of its executive committee here, called on all its churches and their ecumenical partners to "condemn the wall as an unlawful annexation which should not be recognised by any state."
The council recognised what it called Israel's "serious and legitimate security concerns" but pointed out the obstacles it presented for Palestinians trying to get to their place of work or to essential services like schools and hospitals.
And it said the Israeli government should "stop and reverse the construction of the wall in the occupied Palestinian territories."
The WCC considered that the barrier, in as much as part of it was built within the occupied territories was contrary to "all peace-making efforts and most importantly the whole concept of a viable and contiguous Palestinian state established side by side by the state of Israel."
The WCC said it would approach the International Court of Justice - which is set to rule on the legality of the barrier after hearings that begin on Monday - to inform it of the "immense human costs paid by the Palestinian people and its long term consequences on peace and reconciliation".
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