Plea on deportees

Jerusalem (Reuter) - A legal challenge to Israel's expulsion of hundreds of Palestinians began in the Supreme Court yesterday, with the state warning that an order to bring the deportees home would be a 'fatal blow' to security organisations.

The hearing into the legality of the deportation last month of more than 400 Palestinians to Lebanon began four hours before the Egyptian Foreign Minister, Amr Moussa, arrived in Israel to discuss fears that the expulsions could derail the Middle East peace talks.