According to the biblical account, the kings Saul, David, and Solomon ruled over all twelve tribes of Israel; after Solomon’s death, their kingdom split into two rival states—Judea in the south and Israel in the north. One of the enduring arguments among historians of this period is whether the “united monarchy” ever existed. While conclusive evidence remains to be found, a recent excavation lends credence, in the eyes of some, to the Bible’s version of events, as Owen Jarus writes:

Archaeologists have discovered a sprawling, possibly 3,000-year-old house. . . . The archaeologists who excavated the house, at a site now called Tel Eton, [argue] that the date, design, and size of the house indicates that a strong organized government existed at Tel Eton around 3,000 years ago. They added that this government may be the united monarchy. The site is located in the central part of Israel in a region called the Shefelah. . . .

Before construction of the house began, a 3,200-year-old chalice was buried in what archaeologists call a foundation deposit. To confirm when the house was constructed, the archaeologists radiocarbon-dated four artifacts—a piece of charcoal found near the chalice, another piece of charcoal found within the remains of a floor above the chalice, and two olive pits found within the remains of the house’s floor.

The house is oriented toward the east and . . . is divided into four areas—three long spaces at the front and a long space in the back—that are then subdivided. Israelites frequently built houses with this type of design; non-Israelites did not. . . . Additionally, the archaeologists found that Tel Eton was fortified around 3,000 years ago, something they believe strengthens their argument that a powerful government existed at Tel Eton. They also point out that other sites dating back 3,000 years ago have been found in Israel that could be connected to the united monarchy, including Khirbet Qeiyafa, a fortified hilltop city located nineteen miles southwest of Jerusalem.

For some time, opponents of U.S support for Israel have been urging the White House to end the war in Gaza, or simply calling for a ceasefire. Douglas Feith and Lewis Libby consider what such a result would actually entail:

Ending the war immediately would allow Hamas to survive and retain military and governing power. Leaving it in the area containing the Sinai-Gaza smuggling routes would ensure that Hamas can rearm. This is why Hamas leaders now plead for a ceasefire. A ceasefire will provide some relief for Gazans today, but a prolonged ceasefire will preserve Hamas’s bloody oppression of Gaza and make future wars with Israel inevitable.

For most Gazans, even when there is no hot war, Hamas’s dictatorship is a nightmarish tyranny. Hamas rule features the torture and murder of regime opponents, official corruption, extremist indoctrination of children, and misery for the population in general. Hamas diverts foreign aid and other resources from proper uses; instead of improving life for the mass of the people, it uses the funds to fight against Palestinians and Israelis.

Moreover, a Hamas-affiliated website warned Gazans last month against cooperating with Israel in securing and delivering the truckloads of aid flowing into the Strip. It promised to deal with those who do with “an iron fist.” In other words, if Hamas remains in power, it will begin torturing, imprisoning, or murdering those it deems collaborators the moment the war ends. Thereafter, Hamas will begin planning its next attack on Israel:

Hamas’s goals are to overshadow the Palestinian Authority, win control of the West Bank, and establish Hamas leadership over the Palestinian revolution. Hamas’s ultimate aim is to spark a regional war to obliterate Israel and, as Hamas leaders steadfastly maintain, fulfill a Quranic vision of killing all Jews.

Hamas planned for corpses of Palestinian babies and mothers to serve as the mainspring of its October 7 war plan. Hamas calculated it could survive a war against a superior Israeli force and energize enemies of Israel around the world. The key to both aims was arranging for grievous Palestinian civilian losses. . . . That element of Hamas’s war plan is working impressively.