31.   Greeted by a standing ovation, French President Jacques Chirac told the Palestinian legislature Wednesday that a democratic Palestinian state alongside Israel was the best recipe for Mideast peace.

32.   Hatem Abdel Khader, a member of the Palestinian legislature from Jerusalem, said the strike was intended as a show of force in the city.

33.   Haidar Abdel Shafi, a member of the Palestinian legislature, has submitted his resignation, his son said Wednesday.

34.   He said he hoped the election of the Palestinian legislature would lead to greater sharing of power.

35.   His Fatah faction is expected to dominate the Palestinian legislature.

36.   In Athens, the speaker of the Israeli parliament, Avraham Burg, agreed to an exchange of visits with the Palestinian legislature.

37.   In other developments Saturday, the Palestinian legislature met to discuss the case of a fellow lawmaker arrested in Israel last week while driving an allegedly stolen car.

38.   In protest of the Har Homa building plan, the Palestinian legislature on Saturday called for a general strike Monday.

39.   In other developments Saturday, the Palestinian legislature met to discuss the case of a fellow lawmaker arrested in Israel last week while driving an allegedly stolen Mercedes.

40.   Israeli police on Tuesday detained a Palestinian legislator as he crossed from Jordan into the West Bank, the speaker of the Palestinian legislature said.