Israeli troops destroyed more homes in the West Bank and Gaza yesterday in the midst of security talks between various Palestinian officials, Islamic factions and Israeli leaders.

The Israeli military reported that its troops blew up the home of Quassay Salemeh of the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades in the northern West Bank city of Jabaa, south of Jenin. Witnesses said a young Palestinian living next door was injured in the blast. And in the southern Gaza town of Khan Younis, Israeli troops demolished the home of Saleh Rashwan.

Earlier Palestinian security sources said Israeli forces staged a raid into Rafah, a southern town in Gaza, and destroyed two homes. They added that troops opened fire after rolling about 15 tanks into the town’s refugee camp and Yibna area, accompanied by a pair of bulldozers. Israeli forces have frequently invaded Rafah and demolished hundreds of homes since violence erupted in late September 2000.

The home destruction only marked a deeper hole in recent security talks. After two days of meetings between Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas and 13 Palestinian factions, no agreements of a cease-fire have yet been reached. However, talks will continue today. Also, Palestine National Authority (PNA) President Yasser Arafat agreed yesterday to form a “Unified National Leadership,” within the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), a proposal which would be discussed in detail at a second round-table meeting toady in Gaza with the Higher Follow-up Committee (HFC) of Palestinian national and Islamic groups.

Meanwhile, talks between PNA Minister of State for Security Affairs Mohammad Dahlen and Israeli forces coordinator in the occupied territory Amos Gilad have also seen no results. The Israeli government said it still reserves the right to attack anyone they suspect and will only agree to withdraw from the city of Beit Hanoun in Gaza. But Palestinian leaders insist they stop their incursions on Palestinians and withdraw form the entire Gaza Strip and Bethlehem, in compliance with the ‘roadmap.’

The Palestinian leadership rejected Israeli proposals at the security meetings, accusing them of trying to avoid implementing the peace plan.

“In the security meetings, the Israeli side is continuing with their maneuvers in order not to commit to the roadmap, in accordance with their 14 reservations thereon, and presenting rejected proposals for a partial withdrawal from northern Gaza Strip,” a press release reported on Wednesday by the official Palestinian news agency WAFA.

Palestinian and Israeli officials await U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell’s arrival on Friday to try and seal agreements on several key points of negotiations.