Bereaved Families Press New Leaders to Treat Social Cohesion as Economic Imperative

Moshe Shapiro and a coalition of bereaved relatives are urging the incoming government to prioritize social cohesion as a core national responsibility. The group, known as Hamechane, seeks to establish a formal framework for managing internal divisions within the first 100 days of the new administration. Shapiro, whose son Aner was killed on October 7, 2023, is leading this effort alongside Hoda Daxa and Shai Zohar. They view social stability not just as a moral goal, but as a necessary operational foundation for the state.

The initiative draws a direct parallel to the successful wildflower protection campaign that began in the 1960s. That historical effort combined legal protections with public education, embedding a sense of duty in multiple generations. Hamechane aims to replicate this model for mutual respect, seeking to make the practice of living together as ingrained as previous conservation efforts. The group includes bereaved families, captivity survivors, and those wounded in the Israel-Gaza War, all of whom are pushing for a structured response to polarization.

Shai Zohar, uncle of Capt. Omer Neutra, a New York-born soldier killed in October 2023, described internal polarization as the country's most significant existential threat. He argued that pre-existing divisions contributed to the catastrophe and warned that the nation has already paid a heavy price. Zohar emphasized that unity functions as an operating system. He admitted that his perspective shifted after hearing Hoda Daxa, a Druze community member, discuss the 2018 Nation-State Law. He stated that the law's implications for her community had previously gone over his head, highlighting a gap in understanding across groups.

The 2018 law defines Hebrew as the state language, grants Arabic special status, and reserves national self-determination for the Jewish people. While the High Court upheld the law in 2021, Druze critics argue it excludes a community whose soldiers serve in the state. In November 2023, Druze spiritual leader Sheikh Muwaffaq Tarif called for constitutional recognition of community rights, with the coalition promising separate legislation on Druze status. This legal and social context forms the backdrop for Hamechane's push for broader inclusion.

Hoda Daxa, whose husband Col. Ehsan Daxa was killed in northern Gaza in October 2024, noted that belonging is often tested in daily interactions. She recalled a train ride where speaking Arabic caused noticeable discomfort among passengers, illustrating that hatred does not distinguish between groups. Daxa stressed that unity cannot be limited to Jewish solidarity alone. She observed that while group members vote for different parties, they maintain productive dialogue by remaining open to learning rather than assuming one side is correct.

Shapiro described a yearlong process of building a shared vision among religious and secular Jews, haredim, Druze, and representatives from the political Right and Left. He emphasized that this diverse group represents the true face of Israeli society, where no one had to hide their views. He recalled his grandfather, Haim-Moshe Shapiro, urging the government to widen its coalition before the Six Day War in 1967. That historical move included opposition parties, a precedent Shapiro now cites as evidence that broadening the base can strengthen the state.

The group is also advocating for practical measures in schools, workplaces, and communities to foster personal connections. Shapiro wants children to learn how to listen and handle disagreement, and he is calling for measures against online activity that inflames hatred. The exact structure of the proposed national body has not been settled, leaving that decision to elected officials and professionals. Daxa believes that simply recognizing polarization as a national danger would be a significant first step.

Shapiro clarified that the initiative is not asking citizens to sacrifice their lives, but rather to listen and make room for others. He noted that disagreement does not cancel mutual obligations. The group hopes that by treating social cohesion as a managed priority, the next government can prevent further fragmentation and ensure a more stable social contract for all Israelis.