11.   The Americans have refused to say what they will do or say if Arafat does declare statehood.

12.   The Jews declared statehood.

13.   Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat has repeatedly said that he might declare statehood with the expiration of the Oslo agreement.

14.   Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat has said repeatedly that if the Palestinians do not gain a state in negotiations with Israel he simply would declare statehood.

15.   A senior Palestinian official said Monday that the Palestinian Authority will declare statehood next year despite Israeli objections.

16.   Although Ireland supports Palestinian self-determination, Ahern said the goal was a comprehensive agreement and suggested it would be a mistake to go it alone and declare statehood.

17.   And whether or not it stays in the drawer depends on a host of things, including whether Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat declares statehood unilaterally.

18.   Arafat dearly wants to realize his lifelong dream of declaring statehood for his people.

19.   Arafat has said he has the right to declare statehood in May even if terms have not yet been negotiated with Israel.

20.   Arafat has said he would unilaterally declare statehood in the parts of the West Bank and Gaza under his control if there was no agreement by the deadline.