Gesher, an Israeli movement promoting dialogue between different branches of Judaism, has found that the violence of the past 16 months has strengthened Jewish identity among a majority of Jews in Israel. Almost 60% of Israelis feel that the events of the Oslo War have strengthened their feelings of Jewish and national identity, while only 8% said that the Oslo War had weakened this identity.
Gesher Chairman Rabbi Dr. Daniel Tropper said that the strengthening of Jewish identity contributes significantly to feelings of national unity in Israel and to the bridging of religious-secular and left-right gaps. \"The People of Israel are one family,\" he told Arutz-7 today, \"and experience disputes and disagreements just like any other family. In the end, however, these ties are very deep, such that whenever there is either great joy or great sorrow, the family unites.\" Close to 2/3 of those who said they felt strengthened are between the ages of 18 and 29, while 51% defined themselves as secular.