Hamechane Pushes For 100-Day Unity Plan

Moshe Shapiro, Hoda Daxa, and Shai Zohar lead Hamechane, a coalition of bereaved families and war-affected individuals seeking to institutionalize social cohesion in Israel. Ahead of upcoming elections, the group is demanding that the next government build a comprehensive national framework for social unity within its first 100 days in office. The initiative aims to transform social harmony from an abstract ideal into a state responsibility comparable to the protection of the environment.

Shapiro cites the 1960s wildflower protection campaign as a structural model, noting how legal measures and public education combined to shape generational behavior. He argues that respecting others during periods of deep disagreement requires a similar institutional push. Daxa, whose husband Colonel Ehsan Daxa was killed in northern Gaza in October 2024, emphasizes that unity must extend beyond the Jewish majority. She recalled a train ride where she felt discomfort from passengers after speaking Arabic, illustrating that belonging is tested in daily interactions. "Hatred doesn't distinguish," she said, adding that many non-Jewish citizens feel part of Israeli society and wish to contribute.

Zohar, the uncle of Captain Omer Neutra, a New York native killed on October 7, 2023, identifies internal polarization as the country's greatest existential threat. He argues that pre-2023 divisions contributed to the catastrophe that claimed his nephew's life. "Unity is an operating system, an approach," Zohar stated, warning that Israel cannot revert to previous levels of division after paying such a high human cost. He admitted that listening to Daxa, a Druze, discuss the 2018 Nation-State Law changed his perspective on its impact on her community. "It went over my head," he acknowledged, highlighting the need for cross-community dialogue.

The 2018 Nation-State Law reserves national self-determination for the Jewish people and grants Hebrew status as the state language, while giving Arabic special status without an explicit equality guarantee. The High Court upheld the law in 2021. Druze critics argue the legislation excludes a community whose soldiers serve in the state. In November 2023, Druze spiritual leader Sheikh Muwaffaq Tarif called for constitutional recognition of Druze rights, prompting coalition promises of separate legislation on the community's status.

Shapiro described a yearlong process of building a shared vision among religious and secular Jews, Haredim, Druze, and political opponents. He noted that no participant had to conceal their views during these discussions. "This is the face of Israeli society," he said. The group plans to promote personal connections through schools and workplaces, with Shapiro advocating for curricula that teach children how to listen and handle disagreement. The coalition has not determined the specific structure of the proposed body, leaving that decision to elected officials. Daxa stated that recognizing polarization as a national danger would be an initial step toward change.