Former President Barack Obama spoke about the Israel-Hamas conflict on the popular Pod Save America this week, where he said that “all of us are complicit” in the conflict.
He noted that the tragic conflict involved diverse perspectives: condemning the horrific actions of Hamas, acknowledging the intolerable conditions for Palestinians due to “occupation,” recognizing the history of antisemitism, and the innocent lives lost in the present situation.
🚨🚨🚨Obama says Israel is engaging in “OCCUPATION” Of Palestinian land.
Then makes a moral equivalency between the State of Israel and Hamas.
Hard to quantify how radical and extremist this world view is coming from a former President who funded Iranpic.twitter.com/cXwT8WBUcC
— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) November 5, 2023
“What Hamas did was horrific, and there is no justification for it. And what is also true is that the occupation, and what’s happening to Palestinians, is unbearable, and what is also true is that there is a history of the Jewish people that may be dismissed unless your grandparents, or your great-great-grandparents or your uncle or your aunt tell you stories about the madness of antisemitism, and what is true is that there are people right now that are dying who have nothing to do with what Hamas did,” he said.
Obama stressed the need to address the conflict from a comprehensive viewpoint, urging an understanding that no single side holds clean hands and emphasizing the need for a truthful, multi-dimensional approach rather than one-sided narratives.
Obama says “All of us are complicit to some degree” in the Israel-Hamas war.
— The Post Millennial (@TPostMillennial) November 5, 2023
He criticized social media activism, encouraging a deeper conversation that involves listening to differing perspectives and seeking understanding rather than focusing solely on outrage.
He shared reflections on his time as president, contemplating how he could have facilitated progress. Obama highlighted the importance of forward-looking discussions, urging open dialogue and engagement with differing opinions, emphasizing the necessity of mutual understanding to bring about change.
During an appearance at his foundation, he described the Israel-Hamas conflict as a moral challenge that requires a lasting peace based on genuine security for Israel and the creation of a viable, self-determined state for the Palestinian people, stressing the need for the end of the occupation.
