To the Editor:

In “Lessons from a Gaza Trip,” Catherine Ashton leaves out half the story.

Though she notes “an illegal system of tunnels provides vital goods for the people [of Gaza]” she fails to mention another common use for the tunnels: smuggling arms to terrorists.

How can Ashton write a piece on Gaza without mentioning the terror group Hamas rules the region? Without noting Israel withdrew from Gaza in a major concession for peace? With no mention of rocket attacks by Hamas terrorists hiding among Gaza civilians? Without noting a near-decade of attacks – 10,000 rockets and mortars – on Israeli civilians?

Ashton also fails to note that deep divisions in the Palestinian camp and the failure of the Palestinian Authority to end incitement or shut down terror groups leave no clear negotiating partner for Israel.

Ashton absolves the Palestinians of peace-making responsibility, putting the onus solely on Israel.

What Ashton left out speaks louder than what she included.

Daniel S. Mariaschin