Netanyahu sends Cabinet Secy. Nave to Washington to present U.S. special envoy Ross with "bridging proposals" for resuming PA-Israeli talks. (MA, YA 7/21 in WNC 7/22; NYT, WT 7/22; ITV 7/22 in WNC 7/23; WT 7/23; WJW 7/24; YA 7/25 in WNC 7/28)
Israel's Labor faction forms an unofficial "shadow cabinet," assigning party mbrs. to monitor, react to the activities of each ministry (e.g., MK Beilin on FMin., MK Ori Or on DMin., MK Binyamin Ben-Eliezer on Housing Min.). After 6 mos. the assignments will rotate, though party chmn. Barak will remain the "shadow PM," tracking Netanyahu. (YA 7/21 in WNC 7/29)
Labor Chmn. Barak flies to Amman at King Hussein's invitation to discuss ways of restarting Israeli-PA talks. (IDF Radio 7/21 in WNC 7/22; NYT 7/22)
Netanyahu loses (49-44) a no-confidence vote in the Knesset but is not deposed under the direct-election law. (MM 7/22) (see 7/20)
The `Abd al-Rahim comm. to investigate the PA GCO report on financial corruption submits its final report to Arafat. (NYT 7/22)
Israeli Interior M Eli Suissa, Jerusalem Mayor Olmert say marketing of Har Homa to developers will begin in 3 mos. (MA 7/22 in WNC 7/23)
PA police announce that based on inquiries into Shukah's death 7/14, they have uncovered a Hamas bomb-making factory in Bayt Sahur, containing 66 lbs. of explosives, IDF uniforms, Jewish prayer shawls and caps. (MM 7/21)
PA police arrive at the home of al-Azhar's Dr. Subuh, confiscate the student answers to the exam he gave 6/21. The PSF is still detaining Subuh. (LAW 7/24; Palestine Center for Human Rights press release 7/26; NYT 8/16) (see 7/2)
Israel, Poland sign free trade agmt. under which customs tariffs on industrial goods will be lifted by 1998, on all other goods by 2001. (PAP [Warsaw] 7/21 in WNC 7/22; MA 7/23 in WNC 7/24)