Obama held a press conference in Israel Tuesday.

(CNN) – Sen. Barack Obama on Wednesday said the terror in Sderot is “intolerable,” and praised the residents for their courage and resilience.

“I’m here to say that — as an American and as a friend of Israel — that we stand with the people of Sderot and with all the people of Israel,” Obama said.

Sderot is a southern Israeli town that has come under rocket attack from Palestinian militants in Gaza. Obama earlier toured a home that was damaged in one of the attacks.

“Israelis should not have to live endangered in their homes and schools. I’m hopeful that the recent understanding to end the attacks will provide some relief, but America must always stand up for Israel’s right to defend itself against those who threaten its people,” he said.

Obama said he was “deeply committed” to helping Israelis achieve a lasting peace with Palestinians who are prepared to accept the state of Israel, renounce terrorism and abide by agreements.

“We must support Palestinian leaders who share this vision,” Obama said, calling attention to President Mahmoud Abbas and Prime Minister Salam Fayad, both of whom he met with earlier.

Obama was joined in Sderot by Defense Minister Ehud Barak and Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni.

Sen. John McCain, the presumptive Republican nominee, also toured the war-torn city when he visited the region in March.

Wright gave a speech at the National Press Club Monday morning.

(CNN) — Barack Obama’s former pastor on Monday said it was not him, but the black church that has been the subject of recent attacks.

Rev. Jeremiah Wright, speaking before an audience of 300 at the National Press Club, sought to explain the black religious experience. He said the theology of the black church is a “theology of liberation, it is a theology of transformation and it is ultimately a theology of reconciliation.”

Wright said the black religious tradition, despite its long history, is in some ways “invisible to the dominant culture.”

His remarks came one day after he addressed an audience of 10,000 at the NAACP dinner in Detroit.

Reiterating some of the same points from that dinner, Wright on Monday said “being different does not mean one is deficient – it simply means one is different, like snow flakes.”

Wright said reconciliation means “we embrace our individual rich histories.”

He said this means rooting out “any teaching of superiority, inferiority, hatred or prejudice” and recognizing that each person “is one of God’s children … no better, no worse.”

“Only then will liberation, transformation and reconciliation become realities and cease being ever-elusive ideals,” he said.

Wright is a retired pastor from the Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago, Illinois, where Obama worships.

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Earlier: Obama's ex-pastor gives fiery speech to NAACP