You see, Hamas’s language is just part of the Arab world’s colorful rhetoric; they don’t mean what they seem to. They’re just expressing themselves in their vivid idiom. When Hamas talks about exterminating Israel and killing Jews–their charter in several places doesn’t bother with distinctions among “Zionists,” “Israelis,” and “Jews”–that’s just the picturesque way Arabs express themselves.

Israel’s hard line will only make it more difficult for them to compromise, and as we all know the main reason why sweetness and light have not broken out over the Middle East is Israeli intransigence. Nor will economic pressure moderate the Palestinians’ thinking; recent opinion polls show the depth of Palestinian willingness to meet Israel half way and to at least recognize its existence as legitimate.

As has been proven by the last fifty-eight years, the road to peace is Arab statements and Israeli concessions.

Ordinary Palestinians are unlikely to seek solace in the less-strident Fatah party if Hamas fails to achieve diplomatic victories.

But if we give victories to Hamas, they surely will never have any incentive to moderate

As for

There is no historic precedent that shows a people under economic siege become more moderate as a result of external pressure.

this just goes to show how ignorant of recent history CNN is if they cannot remember South Africa and sanctions.
But of course we must remember that the UN was not involved in “sanctions busting”! filling their pockets.