Palestinian chief negotiator Saeb Erekat described the Jerusalem barrier as a “catastrophe.” "The whole idea is to get as many Palestinians outside Jerusalem, and get as many Israelis inside," Erekat said. "This is determining the fate of Jerusalem before we begin negotiations." Visiting European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana agreed that the Jerusalem barrier is problematic. "We think
that Israel has a right to defend itself,” Solana told reporters. “But we think that the fence, when it is done outside the territory of Israel, is not legally proper and it creates also humanitarian problems."