Tim Walz: Where does Harris’s VP stand on Palestine and Israel?

Kamala Harris has named Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as her running mate for the upcoming US presidential election.

The choice of Walz, announced on Tuesday, aims to reclaim the support of the hundreds of thousands of Democratic voters disillusioned by the Biden administration’s stance on the Israeli genocide against the Palestinian people in Gaza. Many of these voters expressed their outrage by voting “uncommitted” in the primaries, signaling their dissatisfaction with Biden’s unlimited support of Israel amidst the ongoing genocide in Gaza after October 7 resistance operation.

Walz, who has served as a second-term governor and former House member, is seen as a moderate candidate likely to appeal to working-class voters in key battleground states. Unlike his contender, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, whose pro-Israel stance and racist and anti-Arab statements have sparked backlash, Walz’s selection avoids these potential conflicts.

Despite his moderate reputation, Walz has made his position on the Israel-Palestine conflict clear. Following the resistance operation against military sites in the occupation state of Israel on October 7, Walz ordered state flags to be flown at half-mast and criticized those who did not condemn the operation. “If you did not find moral clarity on Saturday morning, and you find yourself waiting to think about what you needed to say, you need to reevaluate where you’re at,” Walz stated at a vigil held at a Synagogue in Minneapolis.

However, Walz has also criticized, albeit in a softer voice, the Israeli actions and shown sensitivity to the concerns of progressive voters who stated that the situation in Gaza is intolerable. In response to a significant protest vote during the Democratic primaries, Walz said he acknowledged the message from these voters, emphasizing the need to listen and address their concerns. He has endorsed calls for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza, aligning with progressive demands.

Despite his efforts to present a balanced approach, Tim Walz maintains a good relationship with the occupation state of Israel. As a former House member, he supported foreign aid to Israel and backed the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, which was opposed by Israel but supported by most Democrats. In 2009, Walz visited Israel on a diplomatic trip, meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.