State Department official: “We are increasingly concerned that Israel wins all the battles but is losing the war.”

Via MOA, in SWOOP, here

"...Facing enormous international pressure, Secretary of State Rice has argued behind the scenes for a US policy that acknowledges the concerns of close US allies in Europe and the Middle East. One State Department official told us: “We are increasingly concerned that Israel wins all the battles but is losing the war.” The open question is whether the incoming Obama Administration will be closer to Bush or Rice. An Obama adviser told us: “The issue is not whether we support Israel. Of course we do. The question we are debating is whether we can steer Israeli tactics in a less confrontational direction.” We believe that, with Congressional opinion running almost unanimously in Israel’s favor, Obama will not launch immediate change – but, as Tel Aviv is well aware, Obama is more open to alternative approaches than Bush..."