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US Defence Secretary William Cohen has arrived in Israel for talks focusing on the two countries' strategic relationship.
Among the issues to be discussed will be Israel's ambitious requests for additional military equipment as part of any possible peace deal with Syria.
But Mr Cohen is also likely to set out Washington's concerns about Israel's high-technology weapons sales to China.
 Israel is an important miltary ally for Washington
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This would focus on enhancing Israel's ability both to gather intelligence and to strike targets at great distances from its own borders.
Cruise missiles
The requested package is thought to include US Tomahawk cruise missiles - though reports suggest that Washington is far from convinced that Israel needs these highly accurate weapons.
Much of the debate surrounding any enhanced aid package will focus on how much of the money might be spent within Israel itself - something that will provide significant benefits for Israel's own defence industries.
But Mr Cohen is also likely to tell his Israeli hosts about Washington's growing concern at Israel's developing relationship with China.
The Chinese military is becoming an important customer for Israeli arms manufacturers.
Chinese shopping list
But what has alarmed Washington is China's interest in Israeli airborne radar, that could significantly alter the balance of power in the Taiwan Strait.
Israel is already developing a prototype system, mounting its radar on a Chinese-supplied, Russian-built Ilyushin aircraft. But China wants three more of the systems.
All the indications are that the Israelis will ultimately bow to US pressure, aware of how much their own modernisation efforts depend upon US support.
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