Israel’s former ambassador to the United States, Daniel Ayalon, has joined the right-wing political party Yisrael Beiteinu.
The party, which is led by hard-liner Avigdor Lieberman and is dominated by Russian-speaking immigrants, won 11 Knesset seats in 2005. It initially joined Prime Minister Ehud Olmert’s coalition but quit the coalition over Israel’s negotiations with the Palestinian Authority.
Ayalon, who is the honorary chairman of Nefesh B’Nefesh, said he felt he had to return to politics.
“We are facing a serious political crisis, and this is why I have decided to join politics,” Ayalon told Yediot Acharonot on Thursday. “My connection with Ivet (Lieberman) and Yisrael Beiteinu is very clear. I read Yisrael Beiteinu’s platform and realized that this was my natural home.”
Ayalon had previously advised Israeli prime ministers including Benjamin Netanyahu, Ehud Barak and Ariel Sharon.
