The US yesterday vetoed a draft UN Security Council resolution condemning Israel for building a security fence dubbed the new “Berlin Wall” in the West Bank.

The US was isolated in voting against the resolution although Bulgaria, Cameroon, Germany and Britain abstained.

Palestinians insist the security fence is contrary to the spirit of the US-backed “road map” for peace in the Middle East.

But US Ambassador John Negroponte said the resolution was “unbalanced’ and failed to “further the goals of peace and security in the region.’

Syria is the only Arab nation to sit on the 15-member council; it introduced the draft resolution last Thursday on behalf of the 22-member Arab League.

The Israeli Cabinet has already approved the decision to extend the security fence further into West Bank territory to protect Jewish settlements – Ariel and Kedumim – based there.

John Dugard, a South African law professor and United Nations human rights investigator said extension of the barrier in the West Bank was “illegal” and an “unlawful act of annexation.”

The decision came as 40 Israeli tanks returned to the Rafah refugee camp in southern Gaza on Tuesday.

Israeli tanks rolled into a Gaza refugee camp overnight, looking to unearth tunnels allegedly used by Palestinian militants to smuggle weapons from Egypt.

At least three Palestinians are reported injured following the incursion.

Israel raided the camp over the weekend, leaving eight people dead and dozens injured.