Josh Shapiro's Gaza stances resurface as he's on Harris' VP shortlist
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Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro (D.) speaks during a rally in support of VP Kamala Harris' presidency. Photo: Lev Radin/Pacific Press/LightRocket via Getty Images
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro has been outspoken against antisemitism and in support of Israel throughout the war in Gaza. His positions have attracted criticism from some progressives as the biggest point against him now that he's on Vice President Kamala Harris' running mate shortlist.
Why it matters: Pennsylvania is a key battleground in the presidential election. Harris is expected to announce her pick early this week ahead of an appearance in Philadelphia Tuesday to kick off a swing-state tour.
- Democratic leaders and key endorsers have privately expressed support for other candidates, namely Govs. Tim Walz of Minnesota and Andy Beshear of Kentucky.
The big picture: Shapiro, who is Jewish and is considered widely popular in Pennsylvania, denounced universities earlier this year for failing to guarantee the safety of students during pro-Palestinian protests that followed the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel and subsequent war in Gaza.
- "We have to query whether or not we would tolerate this if this were people dressed up in KKK outfits or KKK regalia," he said in an interview with CNN's Jake Tapper in April, comparing pro-Palestinian protestors to the Klu Klux Klan.
- Shapiro also expressed support for a proposed bill in Pennsylvania that would penalize colleges that boycott or make financial decisions to penalize Israel. The bill passed in the Senate in June and was referred to the House State Government Committee for consideration, Joana Cameron, a spokesperson for state Sen. Greg Rothman said.
Zoom in: The Philadelphia Inquirer reported earlier this month that as a college student at the University of Rochester, Shapiro wrote in an opinion article "peace will never come" to the Middle East and described Palestinians as "battle-minded."
- His position has changed since then, per his spokesperson Manuel Bonder, who pointed to his support for a two-state solution, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported.
- Shapiro, during a news conference, reiterated that his views have changed: "I was 20," he said.
Flashback: In December, Shapiro condemned then-president of the University of Pennsylvania Liz Magill who was embroiled in public criticism after she appeared before Congress with two other university presidents who all failed to clearly condemn calls for the genocide of Jews.
- He called her testimony before the GOP-led House committee "shameful and unacceptable."
- Magill and Harvard President Claudine Gay later resigned.
Separately, Shapiro barred state employees from engaging in "scandalous or disgraceful" behavior through a May revision in his administration's code of conduct, Spotlight PA reported.
- A need for "moral clarity is especially pronounced today, as antisemitism, Islamophobia, and other forms of hate speech are increasing across not only Pennsylvania, but nationally and globally," a Shapiro administration official wrote in an email to cabinet secretaries.
- This move heightened concerns about unfair punishment among pro-Palestinian and Muslim American groups, as well as free speech concerns among First Amendment advocates, per Spotlight PA.
State of play: Democratic organizers during the height of the protest were worried about how President Biden's handling of the demonstrations and the war overall would affect youth turnout.
- During primaries in several states — including Michigan, North Carolina and Minnesota — tens of thousands of voters chose "uncommitted" over Biden because of the war.
- Harris was backed by a U.S. Muslim organization that had declined to endorse Biden, and early Axios/Generation Lab polling demonstrated her popularity among young voters.
Between the lines: Some Jewish lawmakers said that Shapiro has received heightened scrutiny because of his Jewish faith.
- His views on Israel are similar to other potential vice presidential candidates, Axios' Andrew Solender reports.
- Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz has shown support for Israel throughout the years. In 2010, he said it's not a Democratic or Republican issue, per MinnPost.
- In April, he said the pro-Palestinian demonstrations were "intimidation" and college administrations needed to set parameters.
Catch up quick: Across campuses nationwide, including at Columbia and the University of Southern California earlier this year, protesters demanded university divestment from Israel.
- Nearly 3,000 people were arrested on at least 61 college campuses in April and May, including at the University of Pennsylvania.
- Universities faced criticism for soliciting the intervention of local law enforcement to break up the protests.
Go deeper: Harris VP mystery: Signs point to Shapiro
Editor's note: This story was updated with additional details about Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz's position on Israel.
