Families demand national unity framework

Bereaved families in Israel are pressing the incoming government to treat social cohesion as a core national responsibility, aiming to institutionalize unity within the first 100 days of its term. The initiative, known as Hamechane, brings together relatives of those killed in the Israel-Gaza War, captivity survivors, and wounded individuals to propose a structural response to internal polarization. Moshe Shapiro, whose son Aner died on October 7, 2023, argues that the nation needs a formal framework for living together, modeled on the country's long-standing educational campaigns for protecting wildflowers.

Shai Zohar, the uncle of Capt. Omer Neutra, a New York soldier killed on October 7, identifies internal division as the primary existential threat to the state. He asserts that the fractures present before the attack contributed to the catastrophe and that unity must function as an operational system for governance. Zohar noted that he gained a deeper understanding of the 2018 Nation-State Law after hearing from Hoda Daxa, a Druze member of the group, about its implications for her community. The law, upheld by the High Court in 2021, reserves national self-determination for the Jewish people and has been criticized by Druze leaders for lacking explicit equality guarantees for their community.

Daxa, whose husband Col. Ehsan Daxa was killed in northern Gaza in October 2024, describes belonging as being tested in daily interactions. She recalled sensing discomfort from passengers when speaking Arabic on a train and emphasized that unity must extend beyond Jewish solidarity. The group members, who vote for different political parties, prioritize open dialogue over assumption, aiming to create a shared vision that includes religious, secular, haredi, and Druze communities. Shapiro described this inclusive process as reflective of the true face of Israeli society, noting that no participant was required to suppress their views during the yearlong discussions.

The group seeks to embed these values through schools, workplaces, and community programs, with a focus on teaching children to manage disagreement and respect different communities. Shapiro wants measures to counter online activity that inflames hatred, though Hamechane has left the specific structure of the proposed national body to elected officials and professionals. The initiative draws on historical precedents, such as the 1967 decision to widen the government to include opposition parties before the Six Day War. Shapiro emphasized that the goal is not to sacrifice individual identities, but to ensure that disagreement does not cancel mutual obligations.