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Israeli Supreme Court bans human shields

JERUSALEM: Israel's Supreme Court on Thursday banned the military's practice of using Palestinian civilians as ``human shields'' in arrest raids, saying it violates international law.

The ruling was a rare instance in which the court agreed to take a stand in Israel's conflict with the Palestinians.

The Supreme Court has often deferred to security arguments, despite international condemnation of Israel.

For example, the high court has upheld practices such as targeted killings of Palestinian militants.

Human rights groups filed the petition in May 2002, in response to the army's use of Palestinian civilians in dozens of instances during West Bank arrest operations.

In August 2002, the court issued a temporary injunction against the practice. In Thursday's final ruling, the court said the practice amounts to a ``slide down the slope toward a severe violation of international law.''

The army had argued that the practice should be permissible in some cases, in order to prevent possible shootouts and bloodshed. — AP

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