Nefesh B'Nefesh, an organization revitalizing aliyah from North America and the UK, announced the resignation of former Israeli Ambassador to the US Daniel Ayalon as its co-chairman. After nearly two years of working to increase Western aliyah, Ayalon decided he would continue promoting aliyah from the public arena.

During Ayalon's tenure, the Israeli government made the unprecedented decision to support private aliyah organizations in September 2007, and a historic cooperation agreement was reached with the Jewish Agency for Israel. (Ynetnews)