Before leaving for the U.S. to meet with Pres. Clinton, PM Netanyahu swears in Sharon as infrastructure M; appoints Eliahu Ben-Elissar as new amb. to the U.S., effective 9/1. (ITV, QY 7/8 in FBIS 7/9; MM, NYT, WP, WT 7/9; WT 7/10; MA 7/10, HA 7/11 in FBIS 7/11; WJW 7/11; JP 7/13, 7/20; CSM 7/23; WT 7/24)
Before leaving for the U.S., Israeli PM Netanyahu meets with Golan settler leaders, who present him with a development plan; says he will act to accelerate the plan's implementation upon his return, he has no plans of withdrawing fr. the Heights. (QY, SARR 7/8, SARR 7/9 in FBIS 7/9; SARR 7/16 in FBIS 7/17)
In a press conference on Netanyahu's upcoming visit, White House spokesman Michael McCurry refuses 3 times to state U.S. policy on Israeli settlements, says position has not changed but there is no "usefulness" in restating the U.S. view. Later, on condition of anonymity, a White House officials reaffirms that the U.S. believes settlements complicate negotiations. Administration seeks to avoid clash with Netanyahu on the settlement issue before 11/96 elections. (WT 7/9)
Turkish PM Erbakan's government wins (278-265) confidence vote. Israel, Syria send their congratulations. (CSM, MM, NYT, WP 7/9; MA, SARR 7/9 in FBIS 7/9; MM 7/11) (see 6/28)