Bereaved families demand new social cohesion law within 100 days

One hundred days.

That is the deadline Moshe Shapiro and other bereaved relatives have set for the next Israeli government. They want a national framework for social cohesion drafted within the first 100 days of the new cabinet’s term. The initiative, known as Hamechane, translates to "the denominator." It references the mathematical search for a common ground.

Shapiro lost his son, Aner, on October 7, 2023. Aner threw grenades from a roadside shelter to protect fellow Nova music festival attendees. He is joined by Hoda Daxa and Shai Zohar in this effort. Zohar is the uncle of Capt. Omer Neutra, a New York soldier killed on October 7 whose body was returned from Gaza in November 2025. Daxa’s husband, Col. Ehsan Daxa, commanded the 401st Armored Brigade and was killed in northern Gaza in October 2024.

The group argues that internal polarization is a greater existential threat to the state than external enemies. Zohar stated that divisions prior to October 7 contributed to the catastrophe. "Unity is an operating system, an approach," Zohar said. He warned that the nation has "already paid an immense price" and cannot slip backward.

Daxa, who is Druze, highlighted the impact of the 2018 Nation-State Law on her community. The law reserves national self-determination for the Jewish people and designates Hebrew as the state language. It grants Arabic special status but lacks an explicit equality guarantee. Druze critics argue the law excludes a community whose soldiers serve in the IDF. The High Court upheld the law in 2021, ruling it 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 belonging is tested in daily life. She recalled riding a train with her children while speaking Arabic. She sensed discomfort among passengers, even though no one spoke. "Hatred doesn't distinguish," she said. She emphasized that unity must extend beyond Jewish solidarity. Many non-Jewish residents feel part of Israeli society and wish to contribute. Group members support different political parties, but they maintain that conversation works because participants are willing to learn.

Shapiro described a yearlong process to build a shared vision among religious and secular Jews, haredim, Druze, and those from the political Right and Left. "This is the face of Israeli society," he said. No participant had to hide their views. He cited his grandfather, Haim-Moshe Shapiro, who urged Prime Minister Levi Eshkol to include opposition parties before the Six Day War. In June 1967, the government expanded to include Gahal, led by Menachem Begin, and Rafi, which included Moshe Dayan, who became defense minister.

Aner Shapiro expressed a similar view in a social media post before October 7. After graffiti defaced an image of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, he criticized political and religious categories. He wrote, "There really is no 'them.'" Moshe Shapiro said he believed such divisions were fading during the shiva for his son. He now feels disappointment at their return.

Hamechane proposes encouraging personal connections through schools, workplaces, and communities. Shapiro wants children to learn about different communities and how to handle disagreement. The group also seeks measures against online activity that inflames hatred. The specific structure of the proposed body remains unsettled. That decision is left to elected officials and professionals. Daxa said recognizing polarization as a national danger would be a first step.

Shapiro clarified that the group is not asking people to sacrifice their lives. He wants people to listen, make room for others, and remember that disagreement does not cancel mutual obligations. The initiative aims to make respect for others a national responsibility, similar to how Israel protected wildflowers starting in the 1960s.