Pro-Palestine advocacy groups are intensifying their calls for the Kamala Harris campaign to take a definitive stand against the escalating violence in Gaza, particularly in light of her recent decision to select Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as her vice-presidential running mate. These groups are urging the Democratic ticket to distance itself from the Biden administration’s unwavering support for Israel, which they say has fueled a humanitarian catastrophe and alienated key voting blocs.
In a joint statement released on Tuesday, a coalition of seven organizations, led by the Institute for Middle East Understanding (IMEU) Policy Project, expressed cautious optimism about Walz’s selection but emphasized that more concrete action is needed. “The Biden administration’s unconditional support for Israel’s actions in Gaza has tarnished Democrats’ longstanding support from Palestinian, Arab, Muslim, and progressive communities,” the statement read. “It will take real change in policy to repair that damage.”
The coalition, which includes the U.S. Campaign for Palestinian Rights Action, American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee, and MPower Action Fund, among others, is calling on Harris and President Joe Biden to use their “immense leverage” to secure an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza. Additionally, they are demanding a halt to U.S. weapons transfers to Israel, arguing that American tax dollars should not fund the killing of Palestinian civilians.
Governor Tim Walz, who has served as Minnesota’s governor since 2019, is seen by some advocates as a preferable choice compared to other potential vice-presidential candidates like Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro. Shapiro, who has faced harsh criticism for his pro-Israel stance and repression of student protests against the violence in Gaza, was reportedly in the running until Harris ultimately chose Walz.
While Walz’s record includes a history of siding with Israel, he is perceived as less extreme than Shapiro. His sympathetic view of the “Uncommitted” movement earlier this year, which contrasted sharply with Shapiro’s likening of pro-Palestine protesters to the Ku Klux Klan, has earned him a cautious endorsement from some advocacy groups. “Our movements made clear that Governor Josh Shapiro would have been an unacceptable pick for many reasons, including his aggressive stance against Palestinian rights activists,” said Jewish Voice for Peace Action. “Grassroots power is changing the story, and these hawkish positions are now at odds with the majority of Democratic voters.”
Despite the relief over Shapiro’s exclusion, Walz’s selection has not been without controversy. Pro-Palestine advocates have pointed to his past attendance at American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) conferences and his votes in Congress for billions of dollars in unconditional military aid to Israel as significant red flags. “No candidate is perfect, and Walz is no exception,” said a spokesperson for IfNotNow, a movement of American Jews opposing Israel’s policies in the occupied territories. “We are concerned by his past attendance of AIPAC conferences and his votes for billions of dollars in unconditional weapons funding for the Israeli military when he was in Congress. On the other hand, we are encouraged by his unequivocal defense of the Uncommitted Movement.”
The coalition is urging Walz to reject AIPAC and support an arms embargo on Israel as a show of solidarity with the pro-Palestine cause. “As U.S. Jews whose safety relies on a thriving democracy, we implore Gov. Walz to stand with us—not with Trump, Netanyahu, and the rest of the forces of slaughter, fascism, and apartheid,” the IfNotNow statement continued.
The Michigan-based “Uncommitted” movement, which gained traction earlier this year by urging Democrats to vote “uncommitted” in the presidential primaries as a protest against Biden’s support for Israel, has also weighed in on the Harris-Walz ticket. Leaders of the movement are calling for Harris to clarify her stance on a ceasefire in Gaza and to commit to an arms embargo on Israel before they consider endorsing her in the November election.
“We need to see her articulate and differentiate her own policy from Donald Trump’s, and we want to know what her policy is outwardly different from the disastrous policy that we’ve seen unfold over the last nine months,” said Abbas Alawieh, a co-founder of the Uncommitted Movement in Michigan. Alawieh emphasized that without a clear commitment from Harris, the movement may withhold its support.
The Uncommitted Movement, which defeated Biden in several key Michigan cities during the primaries, has become a powerful force within the Democratic Party, particularly among Arab and Muslim voters. With the general election just months away, the movement’s endorsement could be crucial for Harris, especially in swing states like Michigan.
“We welcome President Harris to Michigan and we hope that she hears Michigan’s very clear request that we stop sending bombs to kill people we love,” said Layla Elabed, co-founder of the Uncommitted National Movement. “If Vice President Harris embraces an arms embargo, we will drop everything we’re doing and endorse her, even through our pain. It’s time for the Democratic Party to choose peace over politics.”
COMMENTS