TEL AVIV Ñ Israel and the United States plan to resume a strategic dialogue suspended for more than a month because of the Sept. 11 Islamic suicide attacks on New York and Washington.

Government and defense leaders plan to arrive in Washington in the coming weeks to discuss a range of strategic issues with the Bush administration. This includes missile defense programs, Iranian strategic weapons programs and U.S.-Israeli defense cooperation, Middle East Newsline reported.

"There's a lot of emphathy with Israel in this difficult period," former Israeli envoy to the United Nations Dore Gold, who consults the current government, said.

Israeli sources said the Foreign Ministry opposes Israeli appeals to launch a new initiative to stop Russian aid to Iran's Shihab-3 missile program and nuclear program. A Foreign Ministry paper authored by deputy director-general Yoram Ben Ze'ev warned this is not a U.S. priority amid the American-led offensive against Afghanistan.

Later this week, Israeli Defense Ministry director-general Amos Yaron will arrive in Washington for a meeting with Pentagon chiefs. Defense sources said the discussions will include the U.S.-led attack on Afghanistan as well as strategic cooperation.

Government sources said they expect Yaron to achieve gains during his meetings at the Pentagon. They said the focus will be on U.S. early-warning to Israel on any Islamic attack on the Jewish state.

"If there is a biological attack, we are among the most protected in the world," Israeli Transportation Minister Ephraim Sneh said.

But defense sources said Yaron will encounter difficulty in promoting missile defense cooperation with the United States. They said Washington appears to have shelved plans to fund several missile programs, including the Tactical High Energy Laser.

On Oct. 24, a second Israeli delegation will meet senior U.S. administration officials. The delegation will be headed by Israeli minister Dan Meridor and Israeli National Security Council chief Uzi Dayan. The Israelis are expected to meet U.S. National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice and Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage.

The sources said the administration also wants to discuss Israeli strategy toward the Palestinian Authority. Israel Security Agency chief Avi Dichter will brief the administration on the war with the Palestinians and the PA record on terrorism.

The meetings are meant to lay the groundwork for a visit by Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon. Sharon is expected to meet President George Bush in mid-November. He leaves for Washington on Nov. 11.

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