Families of the Fallen Set 100-Day Deadline for Israel's Unity Law

Israeli society faces a critical deadline as the country prepares for new elections. The group Hamechane, composed of families who lost loved ones in recent conflicts, has issued a specific demand to the incoming cabinet. They want a national framework for social cohesion established within the first 100 days of the new government's term.

Moshe Shapiro, whose son Aner was killed on October 7, 2023, leads the initiative. Aner died while throwing grenades from a roadside shelter to protect attendees of the Nova music festival. Shapiro is joined by Hoda Daxa and Shai Zohar in this effort. Daxa's husband, Col. Ehsan Daxa, a commander of the 401st Armored Brigade, was killed in northern Gaza in October 2024. Zohar is the uncle of Capt. Omer Neutra, a soldier from New York who was killed on October 7 and whose body was returned in November 2025.

The name Hamechane translates to the denominator, a term referencing the search for common ground. The group includes bereaved families, captivity survivors, and those wounded in the Israel-Gaza War. Shapiro points to the wildflower campaign that began in the 1960s as a historical model. That initiative paired legal protection with public education until it became part of the national culture. He wants the same level of ingrained respect for others, even during periods of deep disagreement.

Zohar described internal polarization as the country's greatest existential threat. He argued that divisions existing before October 7 contributed to the catastrophe. He stated that unity is an operating system and an approach, warning that Israel cannot slip backward after paying such a high price. Zohar admitted he did not fully grasp the impact of the 2018 Nation-State Law on the Druze community until he heard Daxa speak about it.

The 2018 law reserves national self-determination for the Jewish people and defines Hebrew as the state language. It grants Arabic special status but lacks an explicit guarantee of equality. Druze critics argue the law excludes a community whose soldiers fight for the state. The High Court upheld the law in 2021, reading it as compatible with equality protections. In November 2023, Druze spiritual leader Sheikh Muwaffaq Tarif called for constitutional recognition of the community's rights.

Daxa noted that feelings of belonging are tested in everyday moments. She recalled riding a train with her children while speaking Arabic and sensing discomfort among other passengers despite no verbal reaction. She stated that hatred does not distinguish between groups. Daxa emphasized that unity cannot mean solidarity among Jews alone, as many non-Jewish residents feel part of Israeli society and want to contribute.

Shapiro described a yearlong process of building a shared vision among religious and secular Jews, haredim, Druze, and those from the political Right and Left. He said no one had to hide their views during these discussions. He recalled his grandfather, Haim-Moshe Shapiro, urging Prime Minister Levi Eshkol to bring opposition parties into the government before the Six-Day War in 1967.

The group has not determined the specific structure of the body they want created, leaving that decision to elected officials and professionals. They hope to encourage personal connections through schools, workplaces, and communities. Shapiro wants children to learn about different communities and how to handle disagreement. The group also wants measures against online activity that inflames hatred.

Shapiro said he is not asking people to sacrifice their lives, but to listen and make room for others. He believes disagreement does not cancel mutual obligations. Daxa added that simply recognizing polarization as a national danger would be a significant first step.