Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu criticized former U.S. President Barack Obama following remarks Obama made about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Netanyahu’s response came in a video posted on social media platform X on Friday, where he rejected Obama’s characterization of Israel’s founding.

During a paid speaking engagement in Belfast, Northern Ireland, on Tuesday, Obama addressed an audience of approximately 7,000 people at the O2 Arena. In a conversation with Irish journalist Susan McKay, Obama discussed the history of Israel and the Palestinian claims to the land. He acknowledged that European persecution had driven Jews to seek refuge in the Middle East but also stated that Palestinians were displaced and viewed Israel’s establishment as an injustice. Obama said, “They took land off people and they were expelled. And those people understandably said, ‘This is injustice and I want my land back.’”

Netanyahu strongly pushed back against the former president’s remarks, asserting that the Jewish people are not foreign occupiers in their ancestral homeland. He emphasized the historical connection of the Jewish people to the land of Israel, framing the Israeli presence as a legitimate return rather than an occupation.

The exchange highlights the persistent tensions and differing perspectives surrounding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Netanyahu’s rebuttal reflects Israel’s longstanding narrative of historical and religious ties to the territory, while Obama’s comments point to the displacement and grievances experienced by Palestinians. Both leaders have previously expressed nuanced views on the conflict, but the recent public exchange underscores the ongoing sensitivity and complexity of the issue in international discourse.