The latest chapter in the seemingly unending conflict between Israel and Hamas-controlled Palestinian territory came to a close earlier today, with the two sides agreeing to a “mutual cease-fire.” In truth, it was “mutual” only because Israeli military forces accomplished their goal of deterring the immediate Hamas threat. After 11 days of fighting to respond to the unprovoked rocket barrage launched by Hamas militants, Israel met its objectives — key Palestinian leaders were taken out via implementing a strategy to hammer them hard and then step back.

Hamas suffered a significant defeat, as demonstrated by the lopsided death toll. Even the Hamas propagandists in the Associated Press acknowledge the overwhelming results: “Israeli strikes killed more than 200 militants, including 25 senior commanders, and hit more than 100 kilometers (60 miles) of militant tunnels.” By contrast, despite more than 4,000 Hamas rockets being fired, Israel’s “Iron Dome” blocked 90% of them and just 12 Israelis were killed.

Following the cease-fire news, Joe Biden was quick to take credit. “Over the last 11 days, I spoke with the [Israeli] prime minister six times,” he said. “I’ve also spoken with President Abbas and the Palestinian Authority more than once as part of our intense diplomatic engagement. And I want to also thank the secretary of state, the secretary of defense, our national security adviser, and everyone on our team for their incredible efforts to bring this about, this outcome that we’re about to see." Of course, Biden taking credit for the accomplishments of others is par for the course.

Meanwhile, Hamas leadership claimed victory. Palestinians celebrated the cease-fire by waving Palestinian and Hamas flags in the streets of Gaza and setting off fireworks. A Gaza shop owner put into words the reason why this conflict is doomed to continue: "Life will return, because this is not the first war, and it will not be the last war. The heart is in pain, there have been disasters, families wiped from the civil registry, and this saddens us. But this is our fate in this land, to remain patient.” To highlight it again: “It will not be the last war.”

The maddening reality is that peace could actually be a reality if all the Arab countries around Israel would accept the Palestinians, but none ever do, in part because violent malcontents make a better geopolitical bargaining chip than they do citizens.

Unfortunately, false narratives surrounding the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians have been propagated in the U.S. to the point where American Jews are experiencing a dangerous wave of anti-Semitism. This anti-Semitism is being stoked by Critical Race Theory’s “equity” ideology that classifies the Palestinians as the victims, irrespective of their leadership’s anti-Israel terrorism. And the Democrat Party is now the primary vehicle for this vile ideology.