Ayelet Shaked, Israeli Minister of Justice (since 2015)

Ayelet Shaked (Hebrew: אַיֶּילֶת שָׁקֵד), born on May 7, 1976, is a prominent Israeli politician, activist, and former software engineer who currently serves as the Minister of Interior, a key role in Israel's governmental structure. Throughout her career, Shaked has been recognized as one of Israel's most active and impactful legislators, known for her strong right-wing political stances and her significant contributions to various legislative reforms.

Early Career and Entry into Politics

Before her foray into the political arena, Ayelet Shaked built a career in Israel's thriving high-tech industry. She worked as an engineer at Texas Instruments in Tel Aviv, gaining valuable experience in the technology sector. This background in engineering often provides a unique perspective to her analytical approach in policy-making.

Her transition into public life began in 2010 when she co-founded the extra-parliamentary movement "My Israel" with future Prime Minister Naftali Bennett. This movement aimed to influence public discourse and policy from outside the Knesset, Israel's parliament, focusing on Zionist and right-wing causes. Shaked led "My Israel" until May 2012, establishing herself as a formidable voice in Israeli conservative circles even before holding elected office.

Service in the Knesset and Ministerial Roles

Ayelet Shaked first entered the Knesset, Israel's unicameral parliament, in 2013, representing The Jewish Home party. This right-wing, religious-nationalist party provided her with a platform to advocate for her political vision. Interestingly, despite her association with a religious party, Shaked openly identifies as a secular politician, a distinction that highlights the complex tapestry of Israeli political identity and alliances.

From 2015 to 2019, Shaked served as the Minister of Justice, a period during which she became one of the most visible and influential figures in Israeli politics. In this capacity, she initiated and spearheaded numerous legislative efforts that sought to reshape Israel's legal landscape. Her tenure as Minister of Justice was marked by significant reform proposals and the drafting of several pivotal laws.

Key Legislative Initiatives as Justice Minister

• Israel's 2016 NGO Law: This law, formally known as the 'Transparency Requirements for Organizations Supported by Foreign Government Entities Law,' mandated increased disclosure for non-governmental organizations that receive a majority of their funding from foreign government bodies. It was presented as a measure to enhance transparency, though it drew criticism from various groups who viewed it as targeting left-leaning human rights organizations.
• Comprehensive Law Against Terrorism: Shaked played a crucial role in drafting and advancing a comprehensive anti-terrorism law. This legislation aimed to consolidate and update Israel's legal tools for combating terrorism, providing broader powers to security forces and establishing stricter penalties for terrorist activities.
• A Version of the Basic Law Proposal on Israel as the Nation-State of the Jewish People: While the final version of the Nation-State Law was passed after her tenure as Justice Minister, Shaked was a key proponent and drafter of earlier versions of this foundational legislation. The law declares Israel as the nation-state of the Jewish people, a move that affirmed its Zionist character but also sparked debates regarding its implications for minority rights.
• Law Limiting the Powers of the Israeli Supreme Court: Shaked was a vocal advocate for judicial reform, seeking to limit what she perceived as the excessive activism of the Israeli Supreme Court. She initiated proposals aimed at reining in the court's power, particularly its ability to overturn Knesset legislation and government decisions, often advocating for a stronger role for the legislative and executive branches.

Political Transitions and Leadership in the Right-Wing

In 2019, Ayelet Shaked's political journey saw significant shifts. After leaving The Jewish Home, she co-founded the New Right party with Naftali Bennett, aiming to create a new political home for secular and religious right-wing voters. However, the New Right failed to cross the electoral threshold in the April 2019 Israeli election, a crucial barrier for parties to gain representation in the Knesset. Following this setback, Shaked explored options to join the Likud party, but this move was reportedly blocked by then-Culture and Sport Minister Miri Regev.

The political landscape in Israel remained turbulent in 2019, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu unable to form a stable coalition government, leading to a second general election in September of that year. Amidst this uncertainty, Shaked's political fortunes rebounded. She succeeded Naftali Bennett as the chairwoman of the New Right and subsequently became the leader of the Yamina alliance. Yamina, meaning "Rightwards," was an electoral bloc comprising several right-wing and religious-Zionist parties, formed to consolidate votes and enhance their collective strength in the Knesset. Her leadership of Yamina cemented her position as a leading figure within Israel's nationalist right.

Current Role as Minister of Interior

Currently, Ayelet Shaked serves as the Minister of Interior. In this vital capacity, she is responsible for a wide array of domestic affairs, including local government, national planning and building, immigration, population registry, and border control. This role places her at the heart of many daily issues affecting Israeli citizens and residents, allowing her to continue influencing policy and administration across the country.

FAQs

Who is Ayelet Shaked?

Ayelet Shaked is an Israeli politician, activist, and former software engineer who currently serves as the Minister of Interior. She has previously served as a Member of the Knesset and as Minister of Justice.

What is her political background?

Shaked began her political career co-founding the "My Israel" movement. She served as an MK for The Jewish Home party and later co-founded the New Right. She has led the Yamina alliance and held significant ministerial portfolios, including Minister of Justice and her current role as Minister of Interior. She is a prominent figure on the Israeli right-wing.

Is Ayelet Shaked religious?

No, Ayelet Shaked identifies as a secular politician, despite having represented religious-nationalist parties like The Jewish Home in the past.

What significant laws did she initiate?

As Minister of Justice, she initiated and drafted several key laws, including Israel's 2016 NGO law, a comprehensive anti-terrorism law, a version of the basic law proposal on Israel as the nation-state of the Jewish people, and legislation aimed at limiting the powers of the Israeli Supreme Court.

What is the Yamina alliance?

Yamina, meaning "Rightwards," was an electoral alliance of right-wing and religious-Zionist parties in Israel, formed to consolidate their political power and representation in the Knesset. Ayelet Shaked became its leader in 2019.