We all hope the apparent cease-fire between Israel and Hamas will hold . However , we must recognize that Hamas and its terrorist partners bear responsibility for instigating the latest round of this conflict and need to refrain from further rocket and terrorist attacks . Israel exercised its inherent right to self-defense only after weeks of unprovoked attacks against civilian targets . Having picked a fight like a playground bully , Hamas can not now credibly claim to be a victim . Israel , like the United States , places a premium on avoiding collateral damage and has spent hundreds of millions of dollars on sophisticated weaponry to minimize to the greatest extent possible civilian casualties . Hamas intentionally launches unguided rockets into densely populated areas to cause wanton destruction and kill as many innocents as possible . Hamas exploits their own citizens as human shields , locating rocket stockpiles in population centers , hopeful that images of dead Palestinians will rally the world to their extremist cause . It is important to understand how this conflict started and how responsibly Israel has behaved , but also how future conflicts with Hamas can be prevented . Israel has made tremendous progress in reducing Hamas ' capacity to threaten Israel and in restoring its deterrence . Israel 's military operations in Gaza have been informed by impressively accurate intelligence and have been conducted with great precision and success . Significant stocks of long-range rockets have been destroyed , although remaining weapons stockpiles -- located in densely populated areas -- may require risky ground operations to secure should Hamas resume firing at Israel . For any enduring cease-fire , the onus must be on Hamas to control its fighters , cease rocket attacks , abandon terrorism and accept Israel 's right to exist -- conditions it has long refused to accept despite Israel 's commitment to a two-state solution and persistent willingness to negotiate with its Palestinian neighbors . After Israel-Gaza : Who won , who lost ? Israel 's Arab neighbors have an important role to play . Egypt deserves credit for its efforts to craft a cease-fire , but initial inflammatory public statements and actions of its leaders unfortunately served mainly to legitimize Hamas . If Egypt is serious about playing a positive role in the region , it will redouble its efforts to combat terrorist activities in the Sinai , police its border with Gaza , and prevent Iran and others from resupplying Hamas with rockets and other weapons . If Hamas rearms , it will be only a matter of time before the cease-fire breaks down . Opinion : In Israel-Hamas clash , Iran casts a shadow . Despite President Obama 's friendship with Turkish Prime Minister Recep Erdogan , his recent behavior has been incredibly disappointing . Erdogan , not for the first time , this week referred to Israel as a 'terrorist state ' and has solely blamed Israel for the conflict , despite Hamas ' preceding campaign of terror . Erdogan 's anti-Israel positions are well known , but his inability to see in Hamas ' behavior any wrongdoing whatsoever is deeply disturbing . Turkey and Israel for many years had a positive relationship . Their shared interests and democratic values should overcome the obstacles of Erdogan 's personal views and provocative statements . Israelis look fondly upon Turkey and its people , and they desire a better relationship with this important NATO country . Turkey can play an important role in the region , as it has done in Syria , but its ability to be a responsible partner is badly hindered by Erdogan 's staunch defense of a terrorist group . Opinion : Israel , face new reality : Talk to Hamas . The behavior of Qatar is similarly disappointing . Qatar 's emir recently visited Gaza and promised $ 400 million in aid to the terrorist rump-state , and it 's no coincidence that Hamas ' escalation took place in the wake of the emir 's visit and his promise of cold hard cash . Such efforts from Qatar , Egypt and Turkey not only legitimize Hamas ' violent strategy and embolden its militant leaders , but also marginalize the official Palestinian Authority government of President Mahmoud Abbas and Prime Minister Salam Fayyad . Hamas ' influence and ability to threaten Israel militarily is greatly enhanced by the Islamic Republic of Iran . Long a patron of Hamas , Iran provides significant resources and weapons to Hamas and other terrorists in Gaza . Indeed , the longer-range rockets fired at Tel Aviv and Jerusalem are gifts of Tehran , provided for use against the Jewish state . Any enduring solution must consider the pressing need to cut Iran 's military supply lines to terrorists in Gaza . The conflict in Gaza -- as well as the one in Syria -- demonstrates that the threat posed by Iran goes well beyond its pursuit of nuclear weapons . Indeed , the most pressing challenge for Obama in his second term may be the dual task of thwarting Iran 's push for nuclear weapons and combating its support for terrorism . News : Gaza conflict leaves a 'cruel paradox ' for Palestinians . The international community and especially the neighboring Arab and Muslim states , if they truly care for the Palestinians , should make clear that terrorism will never earn the Palestinians statehood and encourage all Palestinian parties to return to the negotiating table to seek a peaceful solution to this decades-long conflict . Follow @ CNNOpinion on Twitter .
Eric Cantor : There 's a difference between the actions of Hamas and Israel . He says Hamas fires rockets indiscriminately into civilian areas ; Israel defends itself . Cantor : Support from Turkey and Qatar encourages Hamas ' aggression . He says for cease-fire to last , Hamas must stop terrorism , accept Israel 's right to exist .