A more cynical blogger might be tempted to characterize this policy barrage - being delivered to Israel by not one, not two, not three, but four different senior White House envoys - as "suffocation:"

The Obama administration is dispatching four of its most senior foreign policy and security figures to Israel this coming week with the same message on two open questions causing friction between the close allies: Don't do it. Taking a firmer line with Israel than the Bush administration, President Barack Obama is urging Israel to stop all settlement construction in the West Bank or risk closing off the most promising avenues for peace negotiations. Washington also wants Israel to shelve any plan for a military strike to sabotage Iran's nuclear facilities, arguing that Obama's offer of engagement and talks with Iran deserves time to bear fruit.

I like how Clinton is trying to offer up assurances about Iran at the exact same time that the White House is brazenly ignoring past US agreements on settlements. That should be persuasive.

Alan Dershowitz said that if I voted for McCain we'd never have a pro-Israel liberal in the White House. He was right.

References:
* US: Parade of officials to caution Israel [AP]
* Clinton says Israel should be patient on Iran [AP]

Previously:
* Reader Poll: Which Israeli City Will Obama Try To Ban Jews From Next?
* Awesome: Obama Now Wrecking Israel's Economy Too
* Israeli Officials: Hey, Do You Think That Maybe Obama's Going To Detonate The US-Israel Relationship?