Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed remarks from former US president Barack Obama on Friday. Obama had criticized Israel for taking land from Palestinians and acting excessively in its historical dealings with them.

Obama delivered those statements during a visit to Belfast in Northern Ireland earlier that week.

In a video shared on social media, Netanyahu declared that the Jewish people are not outsiders in the land of their ancestors. He stressed that Jewish history does not represent a colonial effort and that the territory is not stolen but serves as their homeland.

Netanyahu described Obama's Belfast remarks as unfortunate and highlighted the deep historical ties between the Jewish people and the Land of Israel, including its ancient biblical reference as Judea.

He noted that this is the origin of the Jewish people and that their connection has endured for thousands of years.

The prime minister distinguished Israel from European countries with colonial histories, explaining that Jews in Israel are not comparable to the Dutch in Indonesia or the Belgians in the Congo but are instead Jews in Judea.

Obstacle to peace lies with shared adversaries of Israel and America, Netanyahu says

On the route to a peace deal, Netanyahu emphasized that the true barrier is not Israel but the common regional foes of both Israel and the United States.

He specifically pointed to those adversaries' rejection of the Jewish people's right to their own state within any borders.

Netanyahu referenced frequent calls for the destruction of Israel and America heard in places such as Iran, a mutual opponent of both nations.

He described how such states label Israel the Little Satan and the United States the Great Satan, noting that both countries defend shared values of civilization.

A peace founded on false hopes will shatter against the realities of the Middle East, Netanyahu said. Israel will not risk its existence to satisfy those who deny historical facts, reject its right to exist, or seek to appease terrorism.

We certainly will not, and we never will, he concluded.

Obama: Palestinians understandably seek return of their land

Obama's Tuesday comments, made in discussion with journalist Susan McKay, addressed Palestinian responses to Jewish cultural and military presence in Israel by noting that those people understandably viewed it as injustice and wanted their land back.

The fact remains that the Jewish people endured oppression, discrimination, and death for millennia, Obama said at the time. Europe bore responsibility for much of that suffering, and they understandably pursued a safe haven.

If Israel's stance is that now that we are the strongest and most technologically advanced in the region our security requires doing whatever we need, taking whatever we want, and offering no concessions, he added, that approach may succeed briefly but cedes moral ground.

Obama added nuance to the discussion by observing that the millions of Jews and Palestinians in the area are not going anywhere.

The citizenry of Israel must rethink and reimagine how their children and grandchildren will live in this region, he said. Will they remain behind walls and eliminate everyone around them, or will they discover a just method of self-defense while acting ethically and morally?

Obama further stated that Palestinians must recognize they cannot outkill or outweaponize the Israelis.

We must examine other models for achieving change, he said, highlighting nonviolent strategies. That process will require time.