Tim Walz’s record on Israel, Holocaust education and antisemitism

JTA - Kamala Harris' newly-announced running mate Tim Walz pipped a more likely contender, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro to secure nomination as the Democrat vice presidential nominee on Tuesday night.

Israel is by no means the key factor in the choice. Walz’s backers cited his folksy manner, popularity in a Midwestern battleground state and many friends in Congress, where he served there until 2019, when he was sworn in as Minnesota’s governor. He was reelected in 2022 and has steered Minnesota toward liberal policies including guaranteeing abortion rights, requiring paid family leave and incentivizing affordable housing.

But nor was Israel absent from the equation. Shapiro faced fierce pushback from the pro-Palestinian wing of his party, who have dubbed him “genocide Josh” due to his support for Israel amid its war in Gaza, and his condemnations of campus antisemitism at pro-Palestinian protests.

Many of Shapiro’s defenders have noted that the other contenders have pro-Israel records, and that the focus on Shapiro — including the “genocide” epithet — is antisemitic.

“Every potential nominee for Vice President is pro-Israel,” tweeted New York Rep. Ritchie Torres, an outspoken pro-Israel Democrat. “Yet only one, Josh Shapiro, has been singled out by a far-left smear campaign calling him ‘Genocide Josh.’ The reason he is treated differently from the rest? Antisemitism.”