Israel 'took the land' from Palestinians, has 'ceded moral ground,' Obama tells Belfast crowd
In a conversation with journalist Susan McKay, Obama said that the hostility toward Israel after the October 7 massacre was an indication that a "genuine cessation" was needed.
Former US President Barack Obama addressed the Israeli-Palestinian conflict during a visit to Belfast, Northern Ireland, where he received an honorary doctorate from Queen's University Belfast. Obama highlighted Israel's historical treatment of Palestinians, stating that the nation took land away from its people and acted excessively in their view. He recounted the Palestinians' understandable desire for their land back and emphasized the need for a genuine cessation to achieve long-term solutions.
Obama noted that the Jewish people, who faced centuries of oppression, discrimination, and killings, sought refuge in the region. He warned that if Israel's attitude is that it can do whatever it wants and take whatever it desires without making concessions, it would cede moral ground. The President also challenged both Israelis and Palestinians to rethink their approach, urging them to find a way to defend themselves ethically and morally.
He urged the Israeli citizens to envision their future living alongside their neighbors without walls and out of fear. Obama called for Palestinians to acknowledge that they cannot outkill or outweaponize the Israelis. Instead, he suggested exploring nonviolent strategies for change. He acknowledged that achieving this transformation would take time.
Written by urgent.news from Jerusalem Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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