Netanyahu denounces Obama’s land‑theft claim, defends Israel’s historic rights
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu fired back on Oct. 17, 2026, posting a stern video to X in which he rejected former U.S. President Barack Obama’s accusation that Israel stole Palestinian land.
The exchange underscores lingering tensions between Israel and the United States, coming just days before Israel’s Oct. 27 election, which many view as a referendum on Netanyahu’s leadership.
“The Jewish people are not foreign occupiers in the land of our forefathers.”
In the video, Netanyahu called the territory "Judea" and asserted that the Jewish people have been attached to the region for thousands of years, stating that Israel’s land is not stolen.
“They took land off people and they were expelled. And those people understandably said, ‘This is injustice and I want my land back.’”
Obama made the remarks during a paid speaking engagement at the O2 Arena in Belfast, Northern Ireland, telling journalist Susan McKay that Jews were forced to seek refuge and that the loss of land fuels Palestinian demands for restitution.
Netanyahu dismissed the claim as unfounded, accusing Obama of supporting “Palestinian terror” and of undermining Israel’s right to exist. He added that the real obstacle to peace is “the refusal of our enemies, and America’s enemies, to recognize the Jewish people’s right to a state in any boundaries.”
The feud revives a rivalry that first surfaced in 2011 when Netanyahu resisted Obama’s push for negotiations based on pre‑1967 borders, resurfaced in 2015 over the Iran nuclear deal, and re‑emerged in 2016 when the U.N. Security Council condemned Israeli settlements.
Analysts say the timing of the dispute could sway voter sentiment, as the upcoming election will decide whether Netanyahu remains prime minister amid ongoing security concerns and regional instability.
Both leaders remain firm in their positions, with no indication of a softening of rhetoric before the vote, suggesting the controversy will continue to shape Israeli‑American discourse in the weeks ahead.
