Democrat vice presidential candidate Gov. Tim Walz defended pro-Palestinian protesters on Friday during a local Michigan radio interview and said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu needs to embrace a "two-state solution."
Speaking with MCMU Public Radio out of central Michigan, Walz touched on a variety of topics but perhaps none more vital to a potential victory in the state than the current war between Israel and Hamas.
Host Rick Brewer asked Walz how a potential Harris-Walz administration would handle the conflict and if they would break with President Joe Biden in any way.
"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."
Walz did not get into specifics as to what those reasons were, nor did he mention any responsibility on behalf of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar in reaching a cease-fire deal. The Minnesota governor emphasized the Biden administration's goal of an Israeli and a Palestinian state.
"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 cease-fire with the return of the hostages and then moving towards a sustainable two-state solution is the only way forward," he added.
With Michigan being a critical battleground state, many have accused the Biden administration of wavering in its defense of Israel in hopes of appeasing the large Muslim population in Michigan.
There are over 200,000 registered Muslim voters in Michigan. In February, over 100,000 Michigan Democrats voted "undecided" in the primary in protest of the administration's support for Israel.