Gov. Tim Walz (D-MN), Vice President Kamala Harris‘s running mate, defended pro-Palestinian protesters as “speaking out for all the right reasons,” as the war in Gaza continues between Israel and Hamas.
There has been an increased urgency in getting a hostage and ceasefire deal completed in Gaza after Israel recovered the bodies of six hostages murdered by Hamas. Pro-Palestinian and anti-Israel protesters have been a vocal part of the Democratic voter base in Michigan, and during a radio interview on WCMU in the Great Lakes State, Walz both defended Israel’s right to defend itself, and he put pressure on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government to get a ceasefire and hostage release deal completed.
“We need to continue, I think, to put the leverage on to make sure we move towards a two-state solution,” Walz said. “I think we’re at a critical point right now. We need the Netanyahu government to start moving in that direction. But I think those folks who are speaking out loudly in Michigan are speaking out for all the right reasons.”
“It’s a humanitarian crisis. It can’t stand the way it is. And we need to find a way that people can live together in this, and we’ve said it and continue to say it — getting a ceasefire with the return of the hostages and then moving towards a sustainable two-state solution is the only way forward,” he added.
While answering the question about the Israel-Hamas war, Walz did not mention Hamas during his answer. Ceasefire deals have been rejected over the past several months, with both sides blaming the other.
Pro-Palestinian and anti-Israel protesters have interrupted Democratic campaign events and urged Harris and Walz to do more to stop the bloodshed of Palestinians. In Michigan, pro-Palestinian communities, such as Dearborn, could be key to whether Harris and Walz win the state and the White House in November.
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The Great Lakes State has been rated as a “toss up” by the Cook Political Report.
Harris has been criticized for her lack of news interviews since becoming the Democratic presidential nominee, especially as she appeared alongside Walz for her first one with CNN last month. Walz’s solo discussion with the Michigan outlet is only likely to increase pressure on the vice president to speak more with the media about her plans for the country.