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 Sallai
Meridor served as the Chairman of the Jewish Agency
for Israel and the World Zionist Organization from
1999-2005. Prior to this, Mr. Meridor served as the
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 FSU, Ethiopia, Argentina,
and France, and strategic preparations for dealing
with the future challenge of Aliyah choice. In response
to the war of terror against Israel, 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, Mr. Meridor
served as an advisor 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, 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, Mr. 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 are
the proud parents of three daughters.
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