A legal bid to block the use of British airports by US planes supplying bombs to Israel was rejected by the High Court yesterday.

A judge in London dismissed a plea by the Islamic Human Rights Commission for permission to seek judicial review and an injunction against the Government, based on the argument that it was knowingly assisting "acts of terrorism" by Israel in its campaign against Hezbollah in southern Lebanon.

Mr Justice Ouseley had been urged to rule that the UK was guilty of aiding and abetting breaches of international law by allowing US aircraft carrying bombs and detonators to Israel to stop over at UK airports.

But the judge said at the start of his judgment that the IHRC had failed to establish an arguable case "by a very long way".

The IHRC had sought permission to bring proceedings against the Civil Aviation Authority, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and Defence Secretary Des Brown to stop "grave and serious violations" of international humanitarian law.

Peter Carter QC, for the IHRC, told the judge that Britain was assisting in "disproportionate military attacks".

The judge said the IHRC's case was "hopeless", "wholly untenable" and "misconceived".

The IHRC had not identified any individual who had committed or was intending to commit or assist acts of terrorism in the UK, a prerequisite of establishing a case.