Referring to Sunday's infiltration of dozens of right-wing activists into a synagogue in Jericho, Defense Minister Ehud Barak said,"We have no choice but to forcibly disperse such gatherings.
"The state is the sole authority in the West Bank," he said.
Speaking at a Labor faction meeting on Monday, Barak said, "Anyone who chooses to enter (a Palestinian city) can do so only after receiving authorization in advance. Any other procedure is unacceptable."
The defense minister also addressed his scheduled trip to the US this week for a series of meetings with top officials in the Obama Administration and possibly with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.
"The meetings will center on the prospects for regional peace, as well as other issues," he said.