London ? U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice’s calls this week for a deliberate approach to building “a new Middle East” are facing increased skepticism among many of those who ordinarily would be America’s strongest backers in efforts to end the conflict in Lebanon.

U.S. allies in Europe and the Arab world are warning that without Washington’s endorsement of an immediate cease-fire in Lebanon, escalating violence could eclipse any hope to transform a region beset by autocracy and terrorism to one founded on freedom and democracy.

European and Arab allies are particularly skeptical about Washington’s reassurances that the violence in Iraq – and now Lebanon – herald the end of an old, totalitarian status quo in favor of a new, more democratic Middle East. While supportive of America’s calls for democracy in the region, they doubt that going to war with Hezbollah will advance that goal.

The immediate focus of those misgivings falls on the timing of a cease-fire.

“Now more than ever, we call for moderation, with the goal of a cessation of hostilities that are provoking enormous damage and a humanitarian tragedy,” said Massimo d’Alema, foreign minister of Italy, which today will host a meeting of leaders from North America, Europe and the United Nations in an attempt to broker a resolution to the crisis.

Britain has continued to back Bush’s call for a “sustainable,” if not immediate, cease-fire, and supported Israel’s right to guarantee security on its borders. France, which initially called for a rapid cease-fire and condemned Israel’s campaign as “totally disproportionate,” in recent days has eased closer to the U.S. position, blaming Syria and Iran for inciting Hezbollah.

But Italy and Spain have pointedly criticized America’s failure to halt the bloodletting. Germany, while recognizing Israel’s right to defend itself, warned that Lebanon could be “further destabilized” under a prolonged bombing campaign.

Perhaps more worrisome for Washington, America’s two strongest allies in the Arab world, Saudi Arabia and Egypt – each of whom had generally sided with Washington as the conflict began – on Tuesday expressed strong misgivings over the severity of the Israeli airstrikes and echoed European calls for a speedy end to the crisis.