Obama says Israel has "ceded moral ground" in remarks at Belfast event
Former US president Barack Obama, speaking in Belfast, said Israel "took land off people and they were excessive" and has "ceded moral ground" if it refuses concessions. He also said Palestinians cannot "outkill" Israelis and should look to nonviolent strategies.
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The story, neutrally told
Mixed · 2Former US president Barack Obama said Israel has "ceded moral ground" if its security approach rests on military strength and refusing concessions, in remarks in Belfast, Northern Ireland, on Tuesday 13 October. Anadolu AgencyN “That may work short-term... but you have ceded moral ground if that is the position you take.” Read at Anadolu Agency ↗ The Jerusalem PostRC “Former US president Barack Obama said on Tuesday that Israel "took land off people and they were excessive,"” Read at The Jerusalem Post ↗ Mixed · 2He spoke in a conversation with the journalist and writer Susan McKay, on the day he received an honorary doctorate from Queen's University Belfast. Anadolu AgencyN “Earlier on Tuesday, Obama received an honorary doctorate from Queen’s University Belfast.” Read at Anadolu Agency ↗ The Jerusalem PostRC “In a conversation with journalist Susan McKay” Read at The Jerusalem Post ↗ Mixed · 2Obama acknowledged that Jewish people were oppressed, discriminated against and killed for millennia, with Europe responsible for much of it, and that they understandably sought refuge. The Jerusalem PostRC “"the Jewish people, for millennia, were oppressed, discriminated against, killed. Europe was responsible for much of it. They understandably sought a refuge."” Read at The Jerusalem Post ↗ Anadolu AgencyN “He acknowledged the long history of persecution faced by Jewish people in Europe.” Read at Anadolu Agency ↗
Centre · 1He added that Israel "took land off people and they were excessive", and that those people understandably said it was an injustice and they wanted their land back. Anadolu AgencyN “What is also undeniable is that they took land off people and they were excessive.” Read at Anadolu Agency ↗ Centre · 1Obama said that if Israel's attitude is that, as the strongest and most technologically advanced country in the region, its security depends on doing whatever it needs and making no concessions, that may work in the short term but means it has ceded moral ground. Anadolu AgencyN ““If the attitude of Israel is, now that we are the strongest, the most technologically advanced in the region, then our security will depend on us simply doing whatever we need and taking whatever we want” Read at Anadolu Agency ↗ Centre · 1According to Anadolu Agency, he said the current Israeli government appears to have taken that approach and must recognise that "7 million Palestinians are not going anywhere"; he called it unsustainable to press on them a condition no one would accept for themselves. Anadolu AgencyN ““I would say the current Israeli government appears to have taken that. It is incumbent on them to recognise that 7 million Palestinians are not going anywhere,”” Read at Anadolu Agency ↗
Right · 1The Jerusalem Post, citing The Irish Times, reported that Obama also added nuance, saying millions of Jews and Palestinians "aren't going anywhere" and that Israelis must rethink how their children will live in the region, asking whether they will stay behind walls or find a just, ethical way of defending themselves. The Jerusalem PostRC “A report from The Irish Times noted that Obama did introduce nuance into the conversation”“Are you just going to be behind walls and wipe out everybody around you, or are you going to find some just way of defending yourself while still acting in an ethical, moral way?” Read at The Jerusalem Post ↗ Right · 1He also said Palestinians have to understand they will not "outkill" or "outweaponize" the Israelis and should look to nonviolent strategies, which he acknowledged would take time. The Jerusalem PostRC “The Palestinians, he said, have to understand that they will not "outkill" or "outweaponize the Israelis” Read at The Jerusalem Post ↗ Mixed · 2The Jerusalem Post said Obama described hostility toward Israel after the 7 October attack as a sign that a "genuine cessation" was needed for long-term solutions; Anadolu said he described the violence in Gaza as a destructive cycle that should "pain everybody". The Jerusalem PostRC “The hostility toward Israel after the October 7 massacre was an indication that a "genuine cessation" was needed” Read at The Jerusalem Post ↗ Anadolu AgencyN “the violence should “pain everybody”” Read at Anadolu Agency ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left0 outlets
No left outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Centre1 outlet
- Framing
- Anadolu leads with Obama's criticism of Israel's handling of the conflict, framing it as a warning that military strength cannot guarantee security.
- Emphasis
- Criticism of the current Israeli government and Palestinian loss of land.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not include Obama's remarks that Palestinians cannot outkill Israelis or his call for nonviolent strategies.
- Charged language
- “Israeli war on Gaza”
- For example
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“Speaking about the Israeli war on Gaza, Obama said the violence should “pain everybody”” — Anadolu Agency
Right1 outlet
- Framing
- The Jerusalem Post reports the same remarks but adds context on the 7 October attack and Obama's demands on Palestinians, presenting a fuller picture with 'nuance'.
- Emphasis
- Obama's call for Palestinians to adopt nonviolence and the hostility after 7 October.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not quote Obama's remark that the current Israeli government appears to have taken the no-concessions approach.
- Charged language
- “October 7 massacre”
- For example
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“A report from The Irish Times noted that Obama did introduce nuance into the conversation” — The Jerusalem Post
What every side reports
- Obama spoke in Belfast on Tuesday in conversation with Susan McKay.
- He said Israel 'took land off people and they were excessive'.
- He said Israel has 'ceded moral ground' if it takes a no-concessions, force-reliant approach.
Where accounts differ
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Which parts of Obama's remarks to emphasise
- Centre
- Anadolu stresses criticism of Israel and of the current Israeli government, and the 7 million Palestinians who are 'not going anywhere'.
- Right
- The Jerusalem Post includes the criticism but adds his remarks on Palestinians not outkilling Israelis, nonviolence, and the 7 October attack, and cites The Irish Times for 'nuance'.
Left0 articles
No coverage yet.
Centre1 article
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Obama says Israel has ‘ceded moral ground’ in Middle East conflict
Critical Presents Obama's remarks as a rebuke of Israel's conduct and current government.
Right1 article
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Israel 'took the land' from Palestinians, has 'ceded moral ground,' Obama tells Belfast crowd
Mixed Reports the criticism in the headline but adds Obama's comments on Palestinians and nonviolence as balancing nuance.
- 15 Oct 13:55 First Anadolu AgencyN Obama says Israel has ‘ceded moral ground’ in Middle East conflict
- 15 Oct 16:40 +2h 44m The Jerusalem PostRC Israel 'took the land' from Palestinians, has 'ceded moral ground,' Obama tells Belfast crowd
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.
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