[votedfortheotherguy]

Don’t be so sure...personnel IS policy. Every appointment to every significant position in Washington will go through his door.

[quadrant]

I agree that personnel can be policy - it was for Stalin - but a great deal depends on the degree of independence that a COS has. As far as we know, Obama plans to centralize decision making in the Oval Office to a degree not seen since the days of LBJ. Rahm most likely will be used as whip to drive through policy decisions made by others.
The COS may control access, he may influence policy (indirectly) but he doesn't decide issues or even set the agenda for which issues or options will be considered. The Asst Sec of State for Near Eastern Affairs will have more to say about policy toward Israel than will Rahm. And anyone who has been around DC knows the State Dept is the dept most antagonistic to Israel.