WASHINGTON, July 30: The United States will keep pressing Israel on a controversial fence that divides the West Bank, Secretary of State Colin Powell said on Wednesday.

Palestinians picked on Mr Bush’s failure at Tuesday’s summit to change Israeli prime minister Sharon’s Ariel mind on the fence as evidence of US connivance with Israel and unwillingness to challenge Sharon’s policies.

Palestinian militant groups said Israel and the United States were trying to provoke a civil war between Palestinians and they threatened to reconsider their promise to suspend their attacks on Israelis.

After talks with US President George W. Bush in Washington on Tuesday, Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said Israel would go ahead with building the fence. Israel says the barrier, in some parts a concrete wall and in others metal fencing, is designed to stop Palestinian attacks on Israelis.—Reuters