TEL AVIV [MENL] -- Despite Al Qaida's campaign in Iraq, Palestinians continue to lead the world in suicide bombings.

A report by Tel Aviv University said Palestinians comprised the largest group of suicide bombers. Authored by Yoram Schweitzer and Sari Goldstein Ferber, the study cited 400 Palestinian suicide bombers compared to 376 Iraqi suicide attackers.

"Suicide attacks came to be seen as one of the most effective means at the disposal of leaders of terrorist groups striving to achieve their political goals," the report said.

The report said more than 1,323 suicide operatives worldwide conducted or attempted strikes from 1983 to mid-September 2005. Thirty groups have carried out suicide strikes, which the report said were pioneered by Hizbullah in Lebanon in the early 1980s.