Cohen in Tel Aviv

US Defense Secretary William Cohen arrived today in Tel Aviv at the conclusion of his tour of the Middle East to hold talks with Israeli Prime Minister and Defense Minister Ehud Barak in his tour of the area.

Cohen also met with Israeli President Ezer Weizman.

Earlier, Cohen said he shared with King Abdullah of Jordan, a plan the US supports at the UN Security Council to "enable the reestablishment of the UN inspection regime, while expanding even further the amount of humanitarian assistance available to the Iraqi people under the oil-for-food program"

Cohen said the two countries "share the feeling that there is a real opportunity for progress on all tracks of the Peace Process," as Cohen undertook to attempt at the Congress to ensure $50 million in additional aid to Jordan as well as to provide military equipment worth more than $75 million.