A federal appeals court ruled that Saudi Arabia and four princes of the kingdom cannot be sued for financing the 9/11 terror attacks – even if they purposely poured cash into charities that supported al Qaeda.

The country and its leaders are protected by sovereign immunity, the 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals in Manhattan ruled yesterday, upholding an earlier decision by a lower court.

Victims of the attacks and the survivors of those killed had accused the Saudi Arabian government of giving to terrorist-linked charities, knowing the money was going to al Qaeda.

Prince Salman, Prince Sultan, Prince Naif and Prince Turki played critical roles by overseeing the movement of cash to the charities, they alleged.

“We’re still studying the decision. We’re obviously disappointed in the 2nd Circuit’s ruling, and we’re looking at our options for pursuing the litigation for the Sept. 11 victims,” said Justin Green, a lawyer for the victims.

The appeals court concluded, “Even assuming that the four princes were aware of Osama bin Laden’s public announcements of jihad . . . their contacts with the United States would remain far too attenuated to establish person jurisdiction in American courts.”

kati.cornell@nypost.com