Obama Tells UN that Israelis Must Stop Living on "Palestinian Land"

On September 20, 2016, President Barack Obama spoke to world leaders assembled for the opening of the 71st session of the UN General Assembly. In his speech, Obama equated Israelis engaged in productive lives with Palestinian incitement to terrorism - and made no mention of actual Palestinian terrorism. He also made the blanket statement that Israeli settlements were on "Palestinian land" - notwithstanding that ultimate ownership of the territories and handling of settlements, by agreement, long-standing American foreign policy, and the Security Council adoption of the "Roadmap", is to be determined through negotiations between the parties.

In his words:

"[S]urely, Israelis and Palestinians will be better off if Palestinians reject incitement and recognize the legitimacy of Israel, but Israel recognizes that it cannot permanently occupy and settle Palestinian land. We all have to do better as leaders in tamping down, rather than encouraging, a notion of identity that leads us to diminish others."