Israel, the United States and Britain submitted their own affidavits by the deadline on Friday, opposing hearings on the issue to be held by the Hague-based International Court of Justice.

Saeb Erekat, a Palestinian cabinet minister, said the court had "full jurisdiction" and that the Palestinian position was submitted on Thursday based on how the barrier, which cuts deep into Palestinian land, affected the Palestinians' daily lives.

"The fact that it's being built in Palestinian territory is a flagrant violation of international law," he told Reuters.

Israel says completed sections of razor wire and concrete are already keeping out suicide bombers from reaching its territory. Hundreds of Israelis have died in suicide bombings since a Palestinian uprising erupted three years ago.

Palestinians call the barrier an "Apartheid Wall" designed to loop around Jewish settlement blocs and seal a permanent hold on land Israel has occupied since the 1967 Middle East war.

Erekat said the Palestinian affidavit was in line with U.S. and British calls to Palestinians to pursue diplomatic means, not violence, in order to establish an independent state.

Washington filed its argument on Friday saying the World Court is not the proper forum to decide the legality of the barrier. London handed the World Court a statement protesting a hearing on the barrier held without Israel's agreement.

Both countries have previously protested against the route of the internationally criticized barrier in the West Bank.

The tribunal begins deliberations on February 23 in response to a UN General Assembly request to rule whether Israel is legally obliged to tear down the barrier. The court has authorized the Arab League to take part in the proceedings in support of the Palestinians.

AFP adds: The United States said Friday the International Court of Justice (ICJ) should refuse to hear a UN General Assembly request for a ruling on Israel's controversial West Bank separation barrier.

The State Department said Washington, which has raised concerns about the route of the barrier, had filed a brief with the ICJ in The Hague saying the UN referral could damage Middle East peace efforts and set a dangerous precedent.

"The US statement expresses the continuing US view that the referral is inappropriate and may impede efforts to achieve progress towards a negotiated settlement between Israelis and Palestinians," spokesman Richard Boucher said.