An international conference aimed at securing a Palestinian state ended today to the news that Israeli forces had killed three Palestinians, razed houses in East Jerusalem and closed a university and a polytechnic.
The two-day London conference ended today with a commitment to reconvene next month despite Israel's attempt to stop a delegation from the Palestinian territories contributing to the discussions.
Palestinian delegates were able to participate only via video link because of a travel ban applied after a suicide bombing in Tel Aviv on January 5th.
Yesterday it was agreed a new draft constitution for the Palestinian Authority should drawn up by the end of the month and administrative and civil service reforms should begin.
It will be based "on the principles of democracy, political pluralism, rule of law, independence of the judiciary and the protection of individual freedoms," the British Foreign Office said.
The meeting, attended by the 'Middle East Quartet' - the EU, UN, US and Russia - was described as "positive and constructive" by the United States.
Meanhwile, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, whose country is hosting consultations between Palestinian factions, said: "We are working to establish a new climate which would allow negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians to resume."
But top Palestinian negotiator Mr Saeb Erakat accused Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon of not wanting peace. "Sharon's answer to the London conference ... is more killing and destruction," he said.
Mr Erekat was referring to the latest wave of Israeli attacks on Palestinians.
The Islamic University and Polytechnic Institute in Hebron were closed by troops today who described them as a "hotbed for terror attacks". Two Hamas militants in Hebron were also arrested prompted brief clashes when a curfew was imposed.
In East Jerusalem, the army demolished the family homes of the four Palestinian members of a Hamas cell that carried out a series of attacks, including the bombing of a cafeteria at Jerusalem's Hebrew University and a well-known cafe near the prime minister's residence, that killed a total of 35 people.
The four were sentenced last month to between 60 years and multiple life terms in prison.
Israel regularly destroys the homes of militants accused ofattacks, but it was the first time it had used the policy against residents of East Jerusalem who have Israeli identity cards and are entitled to Israeli citizenship.
Israeli forces also killed a 16-year-old Palestinian in the West Bank city of Tulkarm during clashes with youths throwing stones and explosive devices, Palestinians said.
The army later killed another 16-year-old in the city when he violated a curfew. While in the West Bank village of Qabatiya, soldiers killed a Palestinian man during an arrest operation.
Palestinian residents said the dead man had psychological problems and was killed when he came out of his house to watch soldiers trying to force two members of the militant al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades to surrender.
The two gave up after a brief gun battle. The army said its forces killed the man because they thought he had explosives strapped to his body and would attack them.