TEHRAN Palestinian activist, Mostafa Barqothi, has said that the racist regime of Israel has resumed its policy of assassinating Palestinian leaders.

Barqothi said on Sunday that Zionist Prime Minister, Ariel Sharon, has violated all international conventions and is continuing the policy of killing Palestinian activists.

He said that 57 Palestinian leaders have been martyred by the Zionist state.

The war criminal, Sharon, is in fact the main hurdle to peace in the region, he said.

Barqothi also said that Israel's policy is in fact an example of "state terrorism," and contrary to Zionist officials' claims. Abdul Rahman Hamd, a member of the Palestinian Islamic Movement Hamas, who was killed on Sunday in the West Bank town of Kalkily, had recently been released from an Israeli jail and had not taken part in any battles against Israel.

The armed wing of Hamas, the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigade, announced that they will take revenge and will not allow the killers of Hamas to go unpunished.

The Ezzedine Brigade stressed that Palestinians maintain the legitimate right to defend their own country in the face of Israeli invasions and that the enemy will pay the price for its crimes.