The Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem has criticised the construction of a new dividing wall, calling it a disfigurement to the Holy City.

The recent construction of the wall between the Jewish and Arab neighbourhoods in Jerusalem "saddens us and disfigures the face of the Holy City. If this policy of separation continues, each person will move to Jerusalem bringing with him his own wall, his barrier that separates him from others," the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalme, Fouad Twal said.

The concrete wall has been built by Israeli police between the Arab neighbourhood Jabal Mukkaber and the Jewish settlement Armon Hanatziv.

It has been justified by Israeli authorities on the grounds that it seeks to prevent Molotov cocktails and stones being thrown by Palestinians.

Twal said the wall is an infringement on integrity of the Israeli authorities' repeated statement that Jerusalem is a united and indivisible city.

"It is really something out of this world, and part of the policy of dividing the holy city and making even the access to Holy Places difficult.

"In the past the Israeli authorities repeated the slogan that Jerusalem was a united and indivisible Holy City. Now they even build new walls.

"Evidently everything can be sacrificed and contradicted when it suits ones own political strategies."

Commenting on the recent cycle of violence in Jerusalem, which has left 43 Palestinians and 7 Israelis dead, Twal condemned the extra-judicial killings. He suggested the excessive use of violence was a sign of weakness and an investigation into the cause of the violence was crucial for peace.

"In a democratic country any criminal act is punishable by law, and when the judge issues the sentence everyone accepts it.

"Now all civilians in Israel give the green light to shoot. There are extra-judicial killings and lynchings. And the disproportionate use of force is always a sign of weakness."

He added: "A clear mind would be needed to recognize and remove the causes of this new wave of violence, and together defend the profile of Jerusalem as a city of peace, for the good of all".