Former Israeli Ambassador to the United States Danny Ayalon announced yesterday that he would resign from his post as co-chairman of Nefesh B'Nefesh at the end of this year, in order "to pursue an independent political career opportunity," as he said in a statement.

Ayalon, who was with the pro-immigration group for about two years after serving as Israel's ambassador to the United States from 2002 until 2006, joined the right-wing Israel Beiteinu party as chairman of the its international branch last August.

Ayalon told Haaretz yesterday that he would "seriously consider" running for a seat in the Knesset if new elections were to be held. Joining politics is a "natural, almost seamless move," he said, adding that in his new position he would be in charge of "relations with Jewish communities all over the world, and I would like to continue spreading the word that Israel is not only a shelter for them, but also an attractive place to live."

Co-chairing Nefesh B'Nefesh has been "the most rewarding job I had so far," he said, "even more than being ambassador in Washington."