AMSTERDAM, Jan 22: The World Court said on Thursday it had authorized the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) to take part in proceedings against the building by Israel of a controversial barrier in the West Bank.

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague, also known as the World Court, said in a statement the group would be invited to give information in writing by Jan 30 and orally.

The court begins deliberations on Feb 23 on a UN General Assembly request to rule whether Israel was legally obliged to tear down the barrier now being built.

Israel says it needs the barrier of concrete and razor wire to stop suicide attacks that have killed hundreds in three years, but Palestinians call it a bid to annex land taken in the 1967 war and derail creation of a Palestinian state.

Last week the World Court said it had authorized the Arab League to take part in the proceedings. Israel says it plans to send a letter to the World Court to officially challenge its authority to rule on the legality of the barrier.-Reuters