Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom said, “If things were done that were not acceptable to the Americans then we are sorry, but these things were done with the utmost innocence." Shalom’s apology coincides with Rice’s visit to Israel, which she said was designed primarily to help prepare the disengagement - the destruction of Gush Katif and parts of northern Shomron in two months time.



The latest row with the United States surrounds Israel’s sales to China of Harpy unmanned attack drones designed to take out radar systems.



The U.S., concerned about China's arms build-up, claims the Israeli-made weapons could be used against Taiwan, a U.S. ally that China claims as a renegade province.



Last week, Rice conveyed the administration’s displeasure over Israeli arm sales to the Chinese, saying she was conducting “very serious discussions” with Israel over the issue. Since the U.S. is Israel’s major arms supplier, Rice said that Israel should be more “sensitive” to U.S. concerns over arms sales to China.



The United States is worried that as China grows economically, it might ultimately rival the U.S. as a military power in the Far East. With more money to spend on arms purchases, China has been shopping around for weapons, with the European Community becoming a major supplier.



The U.S. had demanded that Israel place its military exports under American supervision. It further reportedly demanded the dismissal of Defense Ministry Director-General Amos Yaron for his involvement in the sale to China. The Chairman of the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, Yuval hSteinitz (Likud), has characterized these American demands as “illegitimate and humiliating."



In retaliation for the Harpy weapons sale, the U.S. imposed sanctions on Israeli defense firms, excluding them from working on developing a futuristic fighter plane, the F-35.



Ironically, after meeting with Rice, Shalom is scheduled to meet with Chinese Foreign Mnister Li Zhaoxing, who was in Jordan Saturday. Li was to meet today (Monday) with Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas, who visited China last year.



Ahead of his meeting with the Chinese foreign minister, Shalom criticized China’s Middle East policy. He said that while Israeli-Chinese ties have improved, China must become more even-handed in its policies towards Israel. “Any country that wants to get involved in the peace process should take balanced positions vis-a-vis the Israelis and Palestinians,” he said. China and Israel established diplomatic relations in 1992.