31.   Netanyahu said Monday that his threat to annex parts of the West Bank in response to a statehood declaration has kept Arafat from making a unilateral move.

32.   On Monday, Palestinian negotiator Hassan Asfour suggested Arafat might hold off on a statehood declaration because it could drive jittery Israeli voters into the Netanyahu camp.

33.   Prime Minister Ehud Barak has said a unilateral statehood declaration could prompt Israel to annex some West Bank lands.

34.   The Kremlin advised Arafat to avoid a unilateral statehood declaration, and Arafat said he had not yet made a final decision.

35.   The resolution adopted Monday by the Palestinian legislative council was intentionally vague about continuing peace talks with Israel, but made no mention of a statehood declaration.

36.   The Palestinian Cabinet said in a statement following the meeting that it would continue making preparations for a statehood declaration in May.

37.   The Palestinian Central Council was widely expected to decide to postpone a statehood declaration.

38.   The Palestinian leader has been told he should postpone a statehood declaration so as not to endanger the continuation of peace talks with Israel.

39.   The terms of the Palestinian decision to delay a statehood declaration were deliberately vague.

40.   They also dismissed warnings Israel would respond to a statehood declaration by annexing parts of the West Bank.