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Source: http://www.miamiherald.com/2010/06/18/1687138/real-change-is-up-to-the-people.html
Real Change Is Up to the People of Gaza
(Miami Herald) Frida Ghitis - There is something missing in the burst of international pressure on Israel to lift its blockade of Gaza. Sure, it makes sense to ease the plight of Palestinians, but the most important element of the problem is that Gaza is currently governed by Hamas, an entity that has made the destruction of Israel and the murder of Jews its officially enshrined goal. We never hear that it is completely within Hamas' power to bring an end to the crisis. Israel withdrew from Gaza in 2005, prepared to work with the Palestinian Authority there to build the economy. Instead, Hamas rockets started flying. When Hamas won elections in 2006, the world stood ready to help Hamas govern, if it agreed to minimal standards of civilized behavior. The conditions were that it accept Israel's right to exist, give up terrorism and abide by agreements approved by other legitimate Palestinian representatives. Hamas refused. A truly normal life for Gazans is not up to Israel or Egypt. It's up to Hamas and the people of Gaza.