After 22 months of relentless bloodshed in Gaza, Hamas has accepted a ceasefire proposal put forward by Egypt and Qatar, opening what may be the first real window in months for an end to the carnage. The deal, which promises a 60-day truce and the release of hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, among other things, carries the seeds of both respite and a potential path toward a lasting peace. The responsibility now lies squarely on Israel to accept it.

Yet, if history is any guide, skepticism is warranted. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has made no secret of his refusal to end the war until Hamas is "defeated and disarmed." His insistence on indefinite military control over Gaza and thinly-veiled plans for the "voluntary emigration" of Palestinians — widely seen as forcible d

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