A three-judge panel said its unanimous thumbs-down to a planned 30-km (18-mile) segment of the barrier would set guidelines for hearings on more than 20 Palestinian petitions against sections of the network of fences and walls.

In response, the Defence Ministry said yesterday it would shift sections of the barrier based on the High Court finding that Israel's need for security did not allow it to give short shrift to the rights of the nearby Palestinian population.

"The replanning of these sections will be based on the principles set by the High Court, namely the proper balance between security and humanitarian considerations," the ministry said in a statement.

It noted that the court said Israel had a right to build a barrier on requisitioned land for security reasons.

Palestinians call the barrier a disguised bid to annex occupied territory they want for a future state since it often snakes well into the West Bank to take in Jewish settlements Israel's government vows never to yield under any peace deal.

Israel says the barrier, 200 km (125 miles) of which have been built, aims to keep out Palestinian suicide bombers who have infiltrated Israeli cities and killed hundreds of people.

In 10 days the International Court of Justice in The Hague is expected to issue an advisory ruling on the barrier's legality as requested by the United Nations.