Dr. Beilin conceived and initiated the Birthright program (Taglit) and headed other  initiatives including successfully sponsoring legislation to guarantee equal representation for the Israeli Arab minority in the public administration, Government-owned companies, and public authorities.
 Before entering politics, Yossi Beilin worked as a journalist, and taught political science at Tel Aviv University, where he received his doctorate.  He is the author of several books, including - Israel: A Concise Political History, Touching Peace, The Manual for Leaving Lebanon, His Brother’s Keeper, and Manual for a Wounded Dove.