Sallai Meridor

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Sallai Meridor

Israeli Ambassador to the United States
Incumbent
Assumed office 2006
Preceded by	Daniel Ayalon

Born	1955 Jerusalem, Israel
Religion	Jewish

Sallai Meridor (born 1955 in Jerusalem, Israel) is the current Israeli Ambassador to the United States. He was appointed to the position in 2006 by Prime Minister Ehud Olmert. Prior to this, Meridor served as the Chairman of the Jewish Agency for Israel and the World Zionist Organization from 1999-2005, Treasurer of the Jewish Agency and WZO and as the Head of the Settlement Division of the WZO.

During the years of his chairmanship, the Jewish Agency underwent a major transformation. The strategy and activities of the Agency were focused on dealing with the Jewish future - the young generation of Jews. Major initiatives included the Masa national effort to bring 20,000 young adults per annum from the Diaspora for a year-long formative experience in Israel, focusing the activities of the Agency in Israel on young Israelis and young Olim, special Aliyah efforts from the Former Soviet Union, Ethiopia, Argentina, and France, and strategic preparations for anticipating the future challenges of increased Aliyah choices. In response to repeated terrorist attacks on the Israeli people, a global Jewish mobilization effort and a major emergency campaign was launched. Internally, the budget of the Jewish Agency was balanced, agreements to eliminate $700M in debt (which put the Agency at risk) were reached, and the Agency took a historic step by restructuring its governing bodies to include significant nonpolitical representation from Israeli society. Finally, with a view towards the Jewish future, the first ever Jewish People Policy Planning Institute was established.

Prior to his work with the Jewish Agency, Meridor served as an adviser to the Minister of Defense and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the State of Israel. In his governmental service, he was involved in the designing of Israel's foreign and defense policies, played a role in the peace process leading to the Madrid Peace Conference of 1991, participated in the negotiations that followed as the representative of the Ministry of Defense, and led Israel's Inter-Agency Steering Committee on Arms Control.

Born and educated in Jerusalem, Meridor earned his B.A. degree at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. He served as an Intelligence Officer in the IDF. He lives in Kfar Adumim with his wife No'a. They have three daughters.