Obama: Military strength does not guarantee Israel’s long-term security
Istanbul (ANTARA) – Former US President Barack Obama criticised Israel’s approach to the Middle East conflict and warned that military strength does not guarantee the long-term security of the Zionist state.
Obama made the remarks during a discussion with award-winning writer and journalist Susan McKay in Belfast, Northern Ireland, on Tuesday, according to the Belfast Telegraph.
Discussing Israel’s war in Gaza, Obama said the violence should be “painful for everyone”. He described it as a cycle of destruction driven by historical grievances, hardened attitudes and deep divisions.
Obama acknowledged the long history of persecution endured by Jewish communities in Europe. However, he also stressed that Palestinians had suffered injustice through the loss of their land.
“That is undeniable. What is also undeniable is that they took land from other people and overreached. Those people naturally say: ‘This is an injustice and I want my land back,’” Obama said.
Obama said the stronger party had a greater responsibility to help break the cycle of violence, rather than relying solely on military and technological superiority.
“If Israel’s position is, ‘We are now the strongest and most technologically advanced in the region, so our security depends on doing whatever is necessary and taking whatever we want, without making concessions to anyone,’” he said.
“That may work in the short term … but you have lost the moral high ground if that is the position you take,” Obama said.
He said the current Israeli government appeared to have adopted that approach. Obama urged it to recognise that millions of Palestinians would continue to live in the region.
“I would say the current Israeli government appears to have taken that position. They must acknowledge that seven million Palestinians are not going anywhere,” Obama said.
“Imposing conditions on them that we ourselves would not be willing to accept makes no sense.”
Earlier on Tuesday, Obama received an honorary doctorate from Queen’s University Belfast.