31.   Yasser Arafat has proposed a compromise by which the PLO executive committee would convene to reaffirm its decision amending the charter.

32.   He said the PNC would have work out a formula to amend the charter by adding clauses and modifying or removing others.

33.   In a September accord to extend self-rule on the West Bank, Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat pledged to amend the charter by removing the clauses.

34.   Israel must redeploy its troops on the West Bank before the PLO amends its charter, senior Palestinian officials insisted Sunday.

35.   Israeli Prime Minister Shimon Peres has said he will freeze the peace process with the Palestinians if the deadline for amending the charter is not respected.

36.   Arafat personally promised the late prime minister Yitzhak Rabin that he would amend the charter.

37.   Arafat agreed to amend the charter in the accord he signed with Israel in September to extend self-rule across the West Bank.

38.   Arafat has pledged to call a meeting of the PNC within the coming weeks to amend the charter.

39.   But they refused to be drawn as to whether they would be willing to amend the charter.

40.   Under a West Bank autonomy accord signed in September, the Palestinians are committed to amending the charter within two months of an inaugural session of their legislative council.