Ayelet Shaked is an Israeli politician, activist, and former software engineer renowned for her right-wing political stance and advocacy for hardline security policies. Born on May 7, 1976, in Tel Aviv, she has been a prominent figure in Israeli politics, serving as Minister of Justice from 2015 to 2019 and as Minister of Interior from 2021 to 2022 and again from 2022 to 2023. Shaked entered the Knesset in 2013 as a member of The Jewish Home party, despite identifying as secular, and later co-founded and led the New Right party in 2018. She also co-founded and led the right-wing Yamina alliance, positioning her as a key player and party leader in Israel's right-wing landscape and known for her advocacy for judicial reforms. Her tenure has been marked by controversial positions on issues like the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, promoting judicial reforms and security-focused legislation, and support from U.S. conservative groups, earning her both praise from nationalists and criticism from left-leaning factions for promoting discriminatory policies.

Before her political career, Shaked worked in the tech sector, including a stint at Intel, leveraging her background in computer engineering. She gained initial public attention through her involvement in settler advocacy and online activism, particularly during the 2011 social justice protests where she supported right-wing counter-narratives. Shaked's rise was bolstered by her alliance with Naftali Bennett, and she has been noted for her articulate defense of Israeli security measures, including settlement expansion in the West Bank. Although she lost her Knesset seat in 2022, she remains an influential voice in Israeli conservatism, often commenting on national security and governance, and is now in opposition to Netanyahu's coalition.

Shaked's personal life reflects her secular outlook within a predominantly religious political sphere; she is married with two children and has been open about balancing family and public service. Her policies have drawn international scrutiny, including allegations of inciting extremism, but she maintains strong support among Israel's right-wing base and abroad.