31.   Because of security needs, Israel cannot grant the Palestinians a truly independent state of their own.

32.   Beijing has consistently sought to punish countries that afford Taiwan recognition as an independent state.

33.   Beijing regards Taiwan as a renegade province and has consistently sought to punish countries that recognize it as an independent state.

34.   Beijing wants the Taipei government to abandon any thought of declaring Taiwan an independent state.

35.   -- maybe the rise of an independent Palestinian state.

36.   A joint Syrian-Lebanese statement on Sunday called for the dismantling of Jewish settlements and the creation of an independent Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital.

37.   A vocal black minority wants to establish an independent black state.

38.   A year later Peled was elected to parliament as a member of the Progressive Party for Peace, which advocated an independent Palestinian state.

39.   Al-Marayati said he and most other Muslims were willing to accept the state of Israel if it supports an independent Palestinian state.

40.   But the rebels, who say they will fight until they have achieved their goal of an independent state, rebuffed Holbrooke.