The initiative bridging divides in Israeli society: "Polarization is an existential national threat"

Three years after October 7 and about three weeks before the elections, hostage survivors and bereaved families are launching the "HaMachane" initiative to reduce division in Israeli society. The initiative demands the next government establish a national infrastructure for cohesion within its first 100 days, and sets a target of ten million cross-sector connections. The initiators warn that polarization is a security threat.

Three years after the October 7 disaster and about three weeks before the elections, hostage survivors, bereaved families, wounded IDF soldiers, and their families from across the political and social spectrum in Israel announce the establishment of the "HaMachane" initiative – a broad national effort to strengthen cohesion and reduce polarization in Israeli society. Among the founders: Merav Berger (mother of hostage survivor Agam Berger), Shir Siegel (daughter of Keith and Aviva Siegel), Merav Leshem Gonen (mother of hostage survivor Romi Gonen), hostage survivor Avinatan Or, Givati fighter Ari Shpitz who was critically wounded in Gaza, and others. The initiative demands the next government establish within its first 100 days a permanent national infrastructure for social cohesion, in cooperation with the education system, local authorities, the business sector, and civil society. Simultaneously, the initiative sets a target of ten million new connections – one for every Israeli – under the hashtag #One_More_To_The_Common_Denominator. The initiators warn that internal division is a security danger, citing a 2026 survey by the Jewish People Policy Institute, according to which 55% of Israelis see polarization as the most dangerous threat to Israel, compared to 23% who see the Iranian nuclear threat and 18% the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.