A section of Israel's separation barrier is seen through a security fence near the neighborhood of Issawiya, on the outskirts of Jerusalem, Sunday, April 30, 2006. Israel's Cabinet voted on Sunday to lay temporary fencing around areas of Jerusalem where the controversial West Bank separation barrier still hasn't been built, calling it a quick solution to prevent Palestinian suicide bombers from entering the country. [AP]

The Israeli Cabinet voted to reroute an area near the major settlement of Ariel deep in the West Bank and approved putting temporary fencing around areas of Jerusalem abutting the West Bank. The moves will put thousands of Palestinians on the "Palestinian" side of the enclosure, officials said.

Palestinians said Israel is imposing its will over disputed land and trying to strengthen its claim to sovereignty over Jerusalem.

"We must make a supreme effort to complete the security barrier wherever possible," Olmert told the ministers. "The decisions we take today will allow us to complete the construction of the fence very quickly in critical areas, and therefore improve our ability to thwart attempted attacks."

Israel began construction of the barrier four years ago, saying it needed to keep suicide bombers out of the country. Olmert says the barrier will serve as the basis for Israel's final border with the West Bank, which Israel won from Jordan in the 1967 Middle East war.

Olmert, whose Kadima Party won March 28 elections, says he hopes to reach an agreed settlement with the Palestinians but will move forward unilaterally if he concludes there is no negotiating partner on the other side.

His Kadima Party signed a coalition deal on Sunday with the ultra-Orthodox Shas Party, securing a parliamentary majority, Israeli media reported. Shas, however, has expressed reservations about Olmert's withdrawal plan.

Kadima captured 29 seats in the elections and Olmert has since been negotiating with other parties to secure a majority in the 120-seat parliament. With Shas on board, the coalition now controls 67 seats.

Israel Radio said Olmert was continuing negotiations with other parties and that the new government could be sworn in on Thursday.

Shas was noncommittal toward Olmert's withdrawal plan. Shas voters tend to be hawkish, and the party last year opposed Israel's unilateral withdrawal from the Gaza Strip.

The coalition agreement allows Shas to decide whether to support the evacuation plan once it becomes an item on the government's agenda, the Haaretz daily reported on its Web site. Olmert has previously said his coalition partners would have to accept his plan.

Following last month's swearing-in of the Hamas-led Palestinian government, unilateral Israeli action appears increasingly likely. Hamas refuses to recognize Israel's right to exist and to renounce violence, leading to its international isolation and a deepening financial crisis.

Hamas ran out of cash following the decision by the United States and European Union ¡ª both of which list Hamas as a terror organization ¡ª to halt hundreds of millions of dollars in direct aid to the Palestinian Authority.

Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh said Sunday he expects his government to resolve its financial crisis in the "near future." Haniyeh gave no details.

Hamas has turned to Arab and Muslim countries for help, raising about $70 million in donations so far, although the money remains stuck in an Arab League account in Egypt.

The Arab League on Sunday sent an emergency payment of $150,000 to the Hamas-led government, saying the money was desperately needed for medical care.

Syria on Sunday began a weeklong campaign to collect money for the Palestinians, setting up sites to makes donations in each of Syria's 14 provinces.

The head of the group organizing the effort, the Popular Committee for the Support of the Palestinian People, Ahmed Abdul-Karim said the Syrian people would "stand alongside" the Palestinian people so they would not be forced to "kneel down due to starvation and siege."

"Our destiny is linked to that of the Palestinians," he said. "Our battle is their battle, and their steadfastness is ours."

Israeli human rights groups said the temporary fencing around Jerusalem will disrupt the lives of thousands of Palestinians who enter the city daily for jobs, services or schooling.