The Arab League will hold a meeting to draw up a diplomatic battle plan after the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruling against the West Bank separation barrier being built by Israel, league officials said.
The organisation's secretary-general Amr Mussa is to take part in the meeting, along with the permanent representatives of the 22-member body, held at the request of the Palestinians to draw up the Arab response.
In a non-binding ruling, the ICJ said the barrier was illegal and should be dismantled, prompting the Palestinians to vow to fight Israel on the issue all the way through the United Nations.
Israel insists the barrier is necessary to prevent Palestinian attacks inside its territory, but the Palestinians denounce it as little more than a land grab which jeopardises the viability of a future state of their own.
In a judgement already criticised by Israel and the US, the world court ruled that the 700 kilometre barrier violates international law and that those parts that encroach on Palestinian territory should be dismantled.
Meanwhile, Iran hailed the landmark ruling against the controversial barrier and called for action to ensure the ruling was heeded.
"This decision signifies the international community's opposition to the expansionistic and racist policies of the Zionist regime," foreign ministry spokesman Hamid Reza Asefi said.
It "has to be used as an effective international device to prevent recurring violations of Palestinians' rights," he told the state IRNA news agency.
Mr Asefi condemned Israel's vow to ignore the ICJ ruling.
"Relying on America's full support, the Zionist regime is mocking the international community," he said.
