Uniting
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Ami Ayalon is a distinguished Israeli public servant and security expert. He currently serves as the Chair of the Board at the Israel Institute for National Security Studies (INSS), where he contributes his extensive experience in national security and strategic affairs. 

Ayalon's prominent career includes serving as the Head of the Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) from 1996 to 2000, where he played a crucial role in the nation's counterterrorism efforts and internal security. Following his tenure at Shin Bet, Ayalon transitioned to a political career, serving as a Member of Knesset from 2000 to 2006. During his time in the Knesset, he was a prominent advocate for security and peace policies. In June 2003, Ami Ayalon, in collaboration with Palestinian professor Sari Nusseibeh, launched a peace initiative named "The People's Voice." This initiative aimed to gather signatures from both Israelis and Palestinians in support of a peace plan that outlines a two-state solution, excluding the right of return for Palestinian refugees. He was also a former senior fellow at the Israel Democracy Insitute.  

Ayalon is also noted for his contributions to public discourse through his writings and speeches. In 2006, Ayalon published the book Friendly Fire: How Israel Became its Own Worst Enemy and the Hope for its Future. The book became a National Jewish Book Awards Finalist in 2020. Ayalon earned his Bachelor of Arts from Bar-Ilan University in 1980. He later obtained a Master of Public Administration from Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government in 1992. In 2010, he completed a Master of Studies in Law at Bar-Ilan University.