The fence, a sensitive subject between Israel and Palestinian authorities, is expected to be on the agenda on Tuesday when Prime Minister Ariel Sharon of Israel meets President Bush at the White House. Israel says the fence is essential to prevent Palestinian attacks, while the president has been critical of the fence's route, which juts into the West Bank.

In northern Israel today, authorities found the body of a missing Israeli soldier in an olive grove near an Arab village, and the police called it a "terrorist killing." The slain soldier, Oleg Shaichat, 20, was the first member of the Israeli security forces to be killed since Palestinian factions declared a truce a month ago.

His disappearance while hitchhiking in uniform in northern Israel on July 21 touched off an extensive search, and volunteers found the body in a field near the Arab town of Kafr Kanna, not far from where the soldier was last seen. He was in uniform but his rifle was missing, the police said.

The apparent kidnapping and the killing of a lone soldier inside Israel was unusual. But the military said it was concerned that Palestinian factions were planning to seize soldiers as possible bargaining chips to win the release of Palestinian prisoners.

No group has claimed responsibility. However, Gil Kleiman, a police spokesman, said that "from the evidence we have, there's no question we are talking about a terrorist killing." He declined to speculate on who might be behind the attack.

Violence is down sharply since the truce declaration. Two Israeli civilians and a foreign worker were killed by Palestinians before the death of the Israeli soldier. Five Arabs have been shot dead by the Israeli security forces.

During the 34 months of fighting, the combined death toll has averaged close to 100 per month.

At the protest over the fence, the demonstrators broke off locks on a gate and began cutting through the wire fence near the West Bank village of Anin. The barrier separates village residents from their farm fields, and Palestinians said the gates leading to the fields have not been opened on a regular basis.

Seven foreign activists were injured, according to the International Solidarity Movement, a pro-Palestinian group made up mostly of young Westerners. The group said it had helped organize the action.

In the days before Mr. Sharon's White House meeting, Israeli officials emphasized the need to build the fence.

"We think the security fence we are building now is very important," said Silvan Shalom, Israel's foreign minister. "We think it prevents the extremists from destroying the peace process."

Mr. Shalom spoke after a meeting with Tom DeLay, the Texas Republican and House majority leader, who is visiting Israel.

Mr. DeLay, a strong backer of Israel, has expressed doubts about the Middle East peace initiative, which calls for the establishment of a Palestinian state as part of a comprehensive political settlement. He said the emphasis should be on fighting Palestinian terrorism.