Obama Criticizes Israeli Government, Cites Land Seizure

Former U.S. President Barack Obama delivered a rare public critique of the Israeli government, stating that "Jews took land from other people" during a conversation in Belfast, Northern Ireland, on Tuesday evening. Speaking with journalist and author Susan McKay as part of a UK tour, Obama addressed the Gaza war, Israeli policy in the West Bank, and prospects for a long-term agreement with the Palestinians.

Obama acknowledged the historical persecution of Jews and their understandable need for a safe haven. However, he asserted that alongside this, "Jews took land from other people and they overdid it." He also accused the current Israeli government of diminishing Israel's moral standing. "The fact is, the Jewish people, for thousands of years, were oppressed, were mistreated, and were killed. Europe was responsible for a large part of that. They understandably sought refuge. That's undeniable. But it's also undeniable that they took land from people and they overdid it. And those people understandably said, 'This is an injustice, and I want my land back,'" Obama stated.

Obama directed significant criticism at the current Israeli government's policy, which he believes relies on Israel's military and technological superiority without adequately considering the need for political concessions. He suggested that if Israel's approach is that its security depends on taking whatever it wants without making concessions, it might work in the short term but sacrifices the moral high ground. He observed that the current Israeli government appears to have adopted this approach.

He emphasized that Israel must recognize the approximately 7 million Palestinians living in the region and warned that imposing an unacceptable reality on them would not ensure long-term stability. Obama also stressed that the responsibility for change is not solely Israel's, calling on Palestinians to acknowledge the power imbalance with Israel and abandon strategies based on military defeat. Regarding the October 7th Hamas attack, he commented that it was planned with little chance of leading to significant change.

Obama expressed pessimism about the short-term prospects for peace, citing the Gaza war and political shifts within Israel, including the rise of the right-wing and settler movement, and changes on the ground in the West Bank. He also noted the ongoing suffering in Gaza and hardening positions in Israel post-October 7th. He suggested the first step should be a "real cessation of violence and aid to the people of Gaza," followed by discussions on a long-term peace settlement. He likened the conflict to situations where societies are trapped by history and tribal divisions, preventing alternative perspectives, and drew parallels to the Northern Ireland peace process.

Obama referenced the 1998 Good Friday Agreement as an example of how deep-seated conflicts can reach a turning point when parties are willing to imagine a different future. He presented the agreement as a model for achieving progress through political and perceptual change, though he did not offer a detailed plan for the Middle East. His appearance in Belfast was part of a UK tour, during which he also received an honorary doctorate from Queen's University Belfast and discussed challenges facing democracy, press freedom, and civic engagement.