Secretary of State Clinton has left the Middle East, heading to Brussels to discuss Iran with a gathering of European leaders. She has also left an opportunity on the table, an opportunity to speak clearly of a new approach to the issue of Palestine which might resonate with those horrified by the drastic attack by Israel on Gaza just weeks ago.

The Washington Post characterized her comments as reminiscent of the Bush Administration, saying:

Indeed, for much of her visit, Clinton appeared to echo the former U.S. administration’s approach, denouncing Hamas, which Israel and the United States consider a terrorist organization, and hailing the Palestinian Authority "as the only legitimate government of the Palestinian people." Hamas won the Palestinian parliamentary elections in 2006.

And the New York Times notes that she chose not to "break new ground:"

When she was asked in Jerusalem about the Gaza border crossings, Mrs. Clinton said Israel faced a dilemma in loosening its controls, since Hamas continued to launch rockets at Israeli towns.

In Ramallah, however, she said, “We have obviously expressed concern about the border crossings. We want humanitarian aid to get into Gaza in sufficient amounts to help the suffering people of Gaza.” It is not clear that Mrs. Clinton was calling for a change in Israeli policy. . . .

Similarly, Mrs. Clinton appeared not to be breaking new ground when she spoke out against Israeli plans to demolish houses belonging to Palestinians in East Jerusalem. She said the orders, issued by the city authorities, were “unhelpful.” Israel says the houses were built illegally, while the Palestinian owners said they were unable to obtain building permits. Israel ordered the demolition of 88 homes last week, and 55 more this week. “It is clearly a matter of deep concern to those who are directly affected,” Mrs. Clinton said.

In fact, both Ha’aretz and the Jersusalem Post make a point of noting that the Secretary did not call for a lifting of the blockade – a call that has been made by both the UN, many EU leaders and Tony Blair as the envoy for the Quartet.

Israel did offer a “gesture” to Secretary Clinton however, agreeing to expand the limited list of items allowed into Gaza – perhaps allowing in paper, jam and other foodstuffs – but still refusing to allow the building supplies required to repair the homes destroyed in the Israeli attack.

Such "gestures" will not be enough to respond to the current situation in Gaza which UNRWA describes in their latest report:

Families whose homes were destroyed during the recent offensive in Gaza and are now living in tents face new misery as the heavy rains that have swept Gaza in the past few days have reduced tents to sodden piles of cloth and turned camps in to a quagmire…

The tents provide little protection from the rain, and there is nowhere to keep basic food supplies dry. . . .

Currently the construction of more permanent structures to shelter those who are displaced is severely hampered by the restrictions on building materials entering Gaza. Those living in the camps are aware of the pledges of Gaza aid that are being made, yet at present they have little hope of seeing that aid in the near future, and feel isolated and abandoned. Until the crossings are fully opened and humanitarian aid and materials for rebuilding are allowed in, the only meager hope available is that the rain will stop.

Perhaps next time Sec. Clinton will take a lesson from Reps. Ellison and Baird who visited Gaza last week and then spoke out more forcefully on behalf of the people left in the rubble.

Video: "Closed Zone" The just released new work by Yoni Goodman, the Oscar nominated animator of the award winning film Waltz with Bashir, created for the Israeli human rights organization Gisha.