Slain Soldier's Mother Enters Politics, Citing 'Responsibility'

Shira Shapira, mother of fallen soldier Sergeant Major Aner Shapira, has entered politics with the Yishar party, driven by a profound sense of responsibility. She stated that Prime Minister Netanyahu should resign due to his leadership on October 7th, the day of the Hamas attacks, emphasizing that leaders must take accountability. Shapira also advocates for term limits for prime ministers, regardless of their past achievements, arguing against perpetual leadership.

Shapira acknowledged that entering the political arena comes at a personal cost, potentially exposing her to criticism and controversy after receiving widespread support following her son's death. However, she feels a "mission" to effect change, defining it not by traditional left-right divides but by a need for a different style of leadership focused on values, meaning, identity, and unity.

She draws inspiration from her son, stating that his memory and his writings continue to guide her decisions. Shapira criticizes the "us versus them" mentality and binary political divisions, advocating for a unified "people of Israel" with a shared mission. She initially considered joining forces with Chili Tropper, whom she views as a principled politician, before aligning with Yishar.

Shapira explained her party's merger with Yishar as a pragmatic step to overcome the electoral threshold and advance shared principles of a broad Zionist government and alternative leadership. She rejects being labeled as left-wing, describing Yishar as a "governing party" that considers all segments of Israeli society. She highlighted the party's diverse composition, including religious Zionist members, as crucial to its inclusive vision.

Yishar's future partnerships, Shapira outlined, will be based on four core principles: Israel as a Jewish, democratic, and liberal state aligned with the Declaration of Independence; universal service; and the eradication of Hamas. She sees potential partners in figures like Yair Golan, provided they adhere to these principles, while firmly rejecting the establishment of a Palestinian state.

Shapira also criticized the use of AI in political campaigning, citing a Likud campaign image as an example of manipulating public perception. Her sharpest critique, however, is directed at parties identifying as religious Zionist, accusing them of siding with draft evaders rather than those serving in the military. She believes current religious Zionist leadership fails to embody the movement's core principles of bridging divides and serving the broader society, positioning Yishar as a home for all Israelis, not just a specific sector.