The Palestinian Authority has executed four criminals convicted of murder, reimposing the death penalty despite protests from Israel, the European Union and human rights groups. Three men were hanged and the fourth killed by firing squad. It was the first execution in four years. Eleven other Palestinians are on death row, including collaborators with Israel. Palestinian officials say the aim is to rein in lawlessness in the territories. "Our position is with the primacy of law and order, but our philosophy is against the death penalty," said Raji al-Surani of the Palestinian Center for Human Rights.