July 27--WASHGTION -- While the media was focusing on the Wikileaks military document release, Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak returned to Washington this week to consult with the Obama Administration on Iran, discuss its increasingly tense relations with Lebanon, push forward on Israeli-Palestinian peace talks and coordinate details of military acquisitions.

Barak arrived in Washington just a month after his last visit. Since then, the US has signed tough new Iran sanctions into law and indicated plans to further arm nearby Arab countries.

During his meetings on Monday, Barak said Israel wanted to make sure that any weapons and technology provided to Arab states, particularly in the Gulf, didn't undermine Israel's qualitative military edge.

"We understand the American need, under the strategy of the administration, to kind of strengthen the moderate Arab countries facing the same threat from hegemonic Iran," he told The Washington Post. "But, at the same time, we have a tradition of understanding with following administrations to keep Israel's superiority in weapons systems and munitions."

During his 2-day visit to Washington Barak met with Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates, National Security Adviser Jim Jones and various intelligence officials.

He also met with top members of Congress. His visit to Capitol Hill comes as the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee considers further missile defense funding for Israel.

Throughout his meetings, Barak is said to have focused on two warnings he was pushing for American policymakers: Sanctions won't thwart Iran's push for nuclear weapons, and Israel will strike directly at Lebanese government institutions if Hezbollah launches rockets at Israeli towns.

On Iran, Barak told the Washington Post that Israel and the US share the same "diagnosis" that Iran is "determined to reach nuclear military capability." But he acknowledged "there are differences about what could be done about it, how it should be done, and what (is) the timeframe within which certain steps could be taken."

His trip follows on the heels of Israel's Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu's visit to the US capital at the beginning of the month, which focused mostly on the peace process.

Barak is considered to be the closest confidant of Netanyahu, his former political rival, making what he says on matters of peace and war particularly relevant for the Obama administration.

Another issue of growing tension is between Israel and Lebanon, where it says the use of force may be necessary.

Since a summer war with Hezbollah ended four years ago with the deployment of a beefed-up UN contingent, Israel says Hezbollah has built an arsenal of 40,000 missiles and rockets.

Barak warned that the next time violence breaks out, Israel would strike directly at the Lebanese government, which he said is allowing Hezbollah to rearm.

Tensions between Israel and Lebanon have escalated in recent days amid reports that Lebanese activists plan to dispatch aid ships to the Gaza Strip in violation of an Israeli blockade. Barak called the aid ships an "unnecessary provocation."

On the Israel-Palestine front, the US is going full steam with its efforts to get Israel and Palestine to agree to direct talks as part of the efforts to find lasting peace in the region.

Later in the week, Barak heads to New York City, where he will meet with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to consult on the world body's actions concerning the Goldstone Report and the recent Gaza flotilla incident.

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