61.   Netanyahu says he would annex parts of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip if Arafat declares statehood.

62.   Netanyahu threatens to walk away from the Mideast peace agreements if Arafat unilaterally declares statehood in May.

63.   Netanyahu told his Cabinet on Wednesday that Israel would no longer consider itself bound by Mideast peace accords if the Palestinians unilaterally declared statehood, army radio said.

64.   Northern Cyprus has declared independent statehood, but it is only recognized by Turkey.

65.   On Sunday, Netanyahu told his Cabinet that Egyptian President Hosni Mubarek was also pressing Arafat to hold off on declaring statehood.

66.   On Wednesday, Tayeb Abdel Rahman, a senior aide to Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, said statehood might be declared within six months.

67.   On the day the Palestinians were to have declared statehood, the Clinton administration launched a fresh effort Wednesday to restart Mideast peace talks.

68.   On Monday, Arafat said he was ready to discuss his plan to unilaterally declare statehood, the latest sign he may back off the May target date.

69.   Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat postponed plans to declare statehood last month to avoid influencing the elections.

70.   Palestinians have taken the first steps toward declaring statehood in May, forming committees to anticipate and counter Israeli retaliatory moves, a senior Palestinian official said Thursday.