Bereaved Families Give New Israeli Cabinet 100 Days to Draft Unity Law

Bereaved families are demanding that Israel's next government establish a national framework for social cohesion within its first 100 days. The group, known as Hamechane, argues that internal division is a structural threat to the state and that legislative action is required to address it. They are not asking for a unified party line, but for a legal and educational structure that mandates respect across different communities.

The initiative is led by relatives of soldiers and civilians killed during the Israel-Gaza War. Moshe Shapiro, whose son Aner was killed on October 7, 2023, is a central figure. Zohar Shai, uncle of Capt. Omer Neutra, and Hoda Daxa, widow of Col. Ehsan Daxa, also speak for the group. Neutra was a lone soldier from New York whose remains were returned from Gaza in November 2025. Col. Daxa was killed in northern Gaza in October 2024.

The group names itself Hamechane, which translates to 'the denominator.' This refers to the mathematical concept of finding a common base. The membership includes bereaved relatives, captivity survivors, and those wounded in the war. They point to the 1960s wildflower campaign as a precedent. That campaign combined legal protection with public education, creating a long-term cultural norm. Shapiro wants a similar approach for social respect, aiming to make tolerance as ingrained as the protection of native flora.

Zohar described internal polarization as the country's greatest existential threat. He argued that pre-war divisions contributed to the events of October 7. He stated that unity functions as an operating system for the nation. He noted that the country has already paid a high price for its divisions. He admitted that he did not fully understand the impact of the 2018 Nation-State Law on the Druze community until he heard Daxa speak about it. The law grants national self-determination to the Jewish people and defines Hebrew as the state language. It gives Arabic special status but lacks an explicit equality guarantee.

Daxa, who is Druze, shared that belonging is often tested in daily life. She recalled a train ride where she spoke Arabic with her children and noticed passenger discomfort. She argued that unity cannot be limited to Jewish solidarity. She said that many non-Jewish citizens feel part of Israeli society and want to contribute. The group members vote for different parties, but they maintain that conversation works because they are willing to listen. She described their approach as coming with an open heart.

Shapiro explained that the group spent a year building a shared vision. The coalition includes religious and secular Jews, haredim, Druze, and members of the political Right and Left. He stated that no one had to hide their views during these discussions. He cited his grandfather, Haim-Moshe Shapiro, who urged Prime Minister Levi Eshkol to form a coalition government before the 1967 war. That government included Gahal and Rafi, broadening the ruling base. Shapiro said the group reflects the full face of Israeli society.

The group has not defined the specific structure of the body it wants created. They will leave that task to elected officials and professionals. They hope to use schools, workplaces, and communities to build personal connections. Shapiro wants children to learn how to listen and handle disagreement. He also wants measures to address online activity that inflames hatred. He is not asking people to sacrifice their lives, but to make room for others. He emphasized that disagreement does not cancel mutual obligations.

The group is positioning this demand ahead of the upcoming elections. They view the new cabinet's first 100 days as a critical window for setting national priorities. They believe that recognizing polarization as a national danger is a necessary first step. The initiative seeks to move social cohesion from a private concern to a public responsibility. They aim to create a lasting framework that outlasts any single government.