The stunning news that the U.S. plans to provide some $900 million to help rebuild Gaza is just one indication that the “change” President Obama promised is upon us and that Israel is in for a tough ride. Plainly, the notion that Hamas should feel inhibited out of fear of a repeat of Operation Cast Lead has now been rendered laughable.

Equally comical are the administration’s assurances that the money will be funneled through the PA so as not to benefit Hamas. Of course, Hamas is firmly in charge in Gaza and would inevitably have a hand in all reconstruction and receive the lion’s share of credit for any improvement in Gaza’s landscape and infrastructure.

On Tuesday came the news that a former U.S. envoy to Saudi Arabia who happens to be a leading advocate for the Arab side in the Middle East conflict is President Obama’s choice to chair the National Intelligence Council, which coordinates the work of U.S. intelligence agencies. (See front-page news story.)

And there is more. A little over a week ago, the Obama administration did an about-face with respect to the next Durban conference. That UN-sponsored conclave, touted as an international forum to confront racism, served in 2001 as a vehicle for savaging Israel. The Bush administration accorded it pariah status. The Obama administration is now preliminarily involved in Durban II and suggesting that the conference has redeeming value.

Prior to the recent Israeli elections, as it became increasingly clear that Benjamin Netanyahu would be the next Israeli prime minister, there was a series of White House leaks suggesting a looming confrontation between President Obama and Mr. Netanyahu concerning the latter’s position on settlements. At the same time, in a direct reversal of Bush administration policy, President Obama’s Mideast envoy, George Mitchell, expressed support for Egyptian efforts to forge a Palestinian national unity government, indicating that America was taking a dramatically new approach to Hamas.

In other words, Bibi no, Hamas yes.  Full Piece