IN a landmark decision, Israel’s Supreme Court ruled yesterday that Israel can expel relatives of Palestinian terror suspects from the West Bank to the Gaza Strip, but only if it proves they pose a security threat.

　A special nine-judge panel made the unanimous ruling in a case that pitted Israel’s security concerns against human rights claims.The Israeli military argued that expulsions create an effective deterrent and help prevent suicide bombings and other terror attacks.

　Human rights lawyers said the measure constitutes collective punishment and violates international law.Palestinian officials said the Palestinian Authority may file a complaint with the U.N. Security Council and the International Criminal Court.

　“This is a sad and black day for human rights,” said Palestinian Cabinet Minister Saeb Erekat.Also yesterday, Palestinian doctors said two Palestinians from a West Bank village were killed by Israeli tank shells. The father of one of the men said the two had no ties to Palestinian militias.

　The court ruled in the case of three Palestinians the military had ordered expelled from the West Bank to the Gaza Strip.The justices upheld the expulsions of Intisar and Kifah Ajouri, sister and brother of Ali Ajouri, a member of the Al Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigade militia, who allegedly dispatched a pair of suicide bombers to Tel Aviv July 17.

　Two Israelis and three foreign workers were killed in that attack.The court said Intisar and Kifah Ajouri had advance knowledge of the attack. The army has said Intisar Ajouri sewed the explosives belts for the bombing.

　The court overturned the expulsion order against Abdel Nasser Asidi, brother of a Hamas activist accused of involvement in two West Bank bus ambushes that killed 19 Israelis.(SD-Agencies)