America.. How does the Democratic candidate for Vice President view the war in Gaza?

The name of Josh Shapiro, Governor of Pennsylvania, was the most widely discussed as a possible Democratic candidate for US Vice President in the upcoming presidential elections. Contrary to expectations, the candidate, Kamala Harris, chose Minnesota Governor Tim Walz for this job. The Gaza war seems to have influenced the decision.

When the Democrats held their primaries, before US President Joe Biden withdrew from the presidential race, Minnesota recorded the largest number of “unpledged” party delegates in the United States.

This was a clear signal from the base of the Democratic Party that they were punishing the Biden administration for its position of support, with money and weapons, for Israel in its war on the Gaza Strip, which left about 40,000 people dead .

Biden withdrew from the race, but the reason was not the Gaza War, but his confusing performance against his Republican rival, Donald Trump, in their debate on CNN, June 27 last year .

Kamala Harris, Vice President, took over the task of managing the election race. The first complex task before her was to unite the Democratic base behind her, so she succeeded in gaining the support of the party and not getting involved in internal conflicts to choose Biden’s successor . She also carefully selected her deputy to complete the mission.

Harris and Walls together at a gathering

The balance needed

The American Investment Board of Minnesota manages about $140 billion in state assets, including $90 billion from public employee retirement programs.

According to Governor Walz’s office, about $116 million of that amount is invested in companies that support Israel.

Last May, Governor Walz participated in a hearing dedicated to hearing from state activists who were trying to stop any investments in Israeli companies and arms manufacturers in Minnesota.

Protesters gathered near the Minnesota Capitol building, carrying Palestinian signs and flags, and the state Board of Investment, made up of four members, including Walz, listened to the protestors’ representatives.

Walz was not disturbed by these demands, and he did not express any hostile position towards the pro-Palestinian demonstrators in the United States.

Before that, Walz showed balance in dealing with the war file in the Gaza Strip. He described the October 7 attack by Hamas on Israel as “painful”. But he showed clear sympathy for the human suffering in Gaza as a result of Israel’s war on the Strip, pointing out that the situation there is “intolerable,” calling for an end to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza conflict.

Harris formally introduced Walz on Tuesday

The leaders of the Democratic Party had realized that the anger of the voters about the position of the Biden administration, which supports Israel with money and weapons in its war on the Gaza Strip, would cost them a lot in the presidential elections. next November

Israel’s war created a humanitarian disaster in the Gaza Strip, and it reflected the American street mood.

The positions of politicians were divided between those who supported the freedom to express anger and called for an end to the war and an end to human suffering in the Gaza Strip, and those who attacked the protesters and called for a ban on these demonstrations, some said. as anti-Semitic.

The Democrats found themselves in the eye of the storm as they prepared for a heated confrontation with Trump, who is trying to return to the White House, taking advantage of what is happening to hold the Democrats accountable for what takes place in the Middle East.

The Biden administration had to balance traditional support for Israel against Hamas, and prevent Israel from killing more civilians in the war, which has lasted longer than Washington expected to achieve two basic goals: getting return of the abductees and disarming the Hamas movement.

Compared to the governor of Pennsylvania

Experts find out that Walz’s choice comes in the context of the Democrats’ effort to recover what they lost from their electoral centers. And give voters signs of hope that Harris will work to stop the war in Gaza by all means.

The great upheaval in the Democratic primaries, especially in states like Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota, encouraged the Democrats to look for a candidate with a balanced view of the conflict, which they found in Walz.

Some Democrats forced Harris to choose Walz instead of Shapiro, due to concerns about the latter’s position on the war between Israel and Hamas.

Walz’s pro-Israel positions are very similar to those of other Democrats, and are also consistent with the principle of balancing support for Israel with pressure to end the Palestinian-Israeli conflict through peace and the establishment of a Palestinian state or – dependent

Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro was among the names mentioned to join Harris.

Unlike Shapiro, whose tough stance on campus protests has drawn strong views from the left, Walz takes a more moderate approach.

This choice reflects the Democrats’ attempt to reconcile their traditional positions with the demands of their more progressive constituencies, at a time when the political complexity of the conflict between Israel and Palestine is increasing.

Democrats hope that Walz will increase their ability to attract a diverse electoral base, bringing together traditionalists and progressives.

Shapiro was one of the most prominent names suggested for the Democrats’ vice-presidential candidate. But his strict and controversial positions make his election a challenge that could make it difficult for the unity Democrats to restore their electoral base and give room to the angry people.

As for Walz’s personality, which combines firmness and flexibility, he is able to attract a diverse Democratic base that combines traditionalists and progressives.

The choice of Walz could also be a quick response to the divisions and protests seen in the Democratic primaries about Biden’s policies in support of Israel.

Walz’s position on Gaza

After the October 7 attack, Walz criticized Hamas and said he supported an agreement allowing humanitarian aid into Gaza.

He wrote a post on the X website, on October 20, 2023, after Biden visited Israel, in which he said that the president “gave a strong speech last night after returning from Israel, and reached an agreement to provide the necessary humanity. help to Gaza.”

Walz said, “The majority of Palestinians are not from Hamas, and it does not represent the Palestinian people. We cannot allow terrorists like Hamas to win.”

.@POTUS gave a powerful speech last night after returning from Israel and reaching an agreement to provide humanitarian aid to Gaza.

Most Palestinians are not Hamas, and Hamas does not represent the Palestinian people.

We cannot let terrorists like Hamas win.

– Governor Tim Walz (@GovTimWalz) October 20, 2023

After the October 7 attack, Walz ordered flags to be flown at half-staff across Minnesota to mourn the victims and criticized those who did not condemn the attack.

After that, it was noted that Walz did not mention much about Israel’s war on the Gaza Strip, and he did not show a controversial position with the protesters in Minnesota, who asked for an end to the war.

Israel’s war on the Gaza Strip created a humanitarian disaster and resulted in the deaths of approximately 40,000 Palestinians

In a PBS News interview with Walz last July, he said: “We need a two-state solution. The atrocities that happened on October 7 are painful,” affirming Israel’s right to defend itself, but “it is the situation in” Gaza. intolerable, and the humanitarian crisis must end.”

In early March, Walz called for a permanent ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, but continued to maintain a balanced line of his position on the conflict.

Respect the Jewish community

Walz is respected in the Jewish community, and the Minnesota and Dakota Jewish Community Relations Council praised his “pro-Israel” record and “strong relationship” with the Jewish community.

“The ability of the Jewish people to prove themselves is at the heart of everything, and not recognizing the State of Israel takes away autonomy and is therefore anti-Semitic,” Walz told the group. in June.

The group also praised Walz’s support for teaching school students about the Holocaust. The New York Times said that Walz, when he was a teacher, taught his students in Nebraska about the genocide that the Jews were subjected to.

During his time in the US House of Representatives from 2007 to 2019, Walz voted with Israel several times, including in 2017, to condemn a UN resolution that declared Israeli settlements in the West Bank Illegal ex.

However, Walz told Israelis on a diplomatic tour of the Middle East in 2009 that he believed the growing number of Israeli settlements in the West Bank was hurting prospects for peace. section break.