Who is Tim Walz, Kamala Harris's Running Mate; Supporter of the JCPOA and Opponent of Hamas

Not only in the world but even in the United States, until a few weeks ago, few people knew Tim Walz, the governor of Minnesota. However, over the past few weeks, he has become a rising star in the Democratic Party and is now set to accompany Kamala Harris as her running mate. But who is Tim Walz, nominated by the Democratic candidate as the Vice Presidential candidate for the upcoming elections? What is his background, what is his view on Iran and the Middle East, and what records has he left behind? A former teacher and military man, Tim Walz was born 60 years ago in a village in Nebraska. He studied social sciences at university and served for 24 years in the National Guard of the United States. Walz has also been a former school teacher, teaching social studies at a high school before entering politics. He met his wife, Gwen Walz, during that time, and they married. The couple now has two children. Kamala Harris has chosen Tim Walz, the governor of Minnesota, as her Vice Presidential candidate. Walz decided to make a significant change in his life in 2006. He ran for Congress from Minnesota and defeated his powerful Republican opponent, Gil Gutknecht, who had been a member of Congress for six terms. He capitalized on voter anger over George W. Bush's policies and the Iraq War to win against the Republican representative who supported those policies. Walz remained in Congress for 12 years, consistently advocating for veterans' rights. He gradually expanded his relationships within the Democratic Party. Leveraging that performance, Walz won the Minnesota gubernatorial election in 2018 with the slogan "One Minnesota." Since taking office as governor, Tim Walz has implemented many significant and notable actions. As promised, he has worked to defend workers' rights and establish a $15 minimum wage. Walz has also been an advocate for abortion rights and has set special conditions for paid medical leave for employees. With these policies, he successfully won re-election in 2022. The governor has eliminated nearly all state abortion restrictions imposed by Republicans in the past, legalized recreational marijuana, and increased care and support for transgender youth. He has also called for stricter gun control laws to prevent bloody violence. During Donald Trump's last visit to Minnesota, Walz described him and J.D. Vance as "weirdos," a phrase that was well received by Democrats and is used by Harris's campaign to attack the opponent. Trump had previously stated in a speech in May to Minnesota Republicans: "I saved your city. If you didn't have me as president, you wouldn't have Minneapolis today," referring to the widespread protests following George Floyd's death. After Floyd was killed by a police officer in Minneapolis, Republicans heavily criticized Walz for his management of the fires, protests, and riots that followed. Walz has supported the 2015 Iran nuclear deal known as the JCPOA, calling it "the best opportunity in recent years to stop Iran's nuclear program." He has also stated that the JCPOA allows for stringent inspections of Iran's nuclear program, and if Tehran violates its commitments, the U.S. has the right to reimpose strict economic sanctions against the Islamic Republic. Walz has long been a supporter of Israel and described the October 7 attack by the extremist group Hamas as intolerable. At the same time, he insists that the United States must pressure both sides to implement a two-state solution and ensure that humanitarian aid reaches Gaza. In 2009, during a visit to Israel, he met with Netanyahu and stated that the increasing number of Jewish settlements in the West Bank disrupts the peace process. Kamala Harris's running mate also called for a ceasefire in Gaza in a March interview with Minnesota radio: "I definitely call for a ceasefire. It must be a meaningful ceasefire. I want an end to these humanitarian pauses, and I don't want a one-week ceasefire or anything like that; we need a permanent solution to this issue." He is also opposed to Hamas and, after Joe Biden's visit to Israel in October, expressed gratitude on his social media account, stating: "The vast majority of Palestinians are not Hamas, and this group does not represent Palestine. We cannot allow terrorists like Hamas to win." The U.S. and Europe have listed Hamas as a terrorist organization. Walz also commented in April on the "sense of insecurity among Jewish students at pro-Palestinian protests," stating: "Students should be able to express their opinions, but at the same time, Jewish students should also feel secure. I think when Jewish students tell us they feel unsafe about this, we should believe them, and I believe them." Given Walz's positions in recent months regarding what is happening in Gaza, it is expected that Arab Americans and Democrats critical of Joe Biden's policies toward Israel and Palestine will once again lean toward voting for the Democratic candidate.