JERUSALEM, Feb. 22 (Xinhuanet) -- Israel began dismantling a smallsection of its West Bank separation barrier on Sunday, a day before the opening of the World Court hearings into the legality of the controversial project, local radio said.

    An eight-km stretch of the barrier that separates the Palestinian town of Baka al-Sharkiya from the rest of the West Bank was being taken down, Israeli public radio cited the defense ministry as saying.

    The move comes a day before the International Court of Justice,the highest judicial body of the United Nations, is to convene to study the legality of the separation barrier.

    Although the ruling of the World Court is non-binding, it is likely to influence international opinion.

    Israel is coming under mounting criticism for the route of the barrier, which dips deep into the West Bank in places.

    The barrier of walls, fences, razor wire and watchtowers is also one of the most contentious issues in the Israeli-Palestinianconflict.

    Israel says the barrier is needed to stop suicide bombers and other attackers from entering Israeli towns and cities.

    But Palestinians argued that the barrier, which is planned to extend 740 km, disrupt the lives of Palestinians and took on the possible establishment of an independent Palestinian state on the territory. Enditem