Born to a Zionist family, Eliaz’s parents were educated in the Kibbutz movement and volunteered as youth to establish the Hashomer Hatzair kibbutzim: Sha’ar Ha-Golan, Gesher Haziv, and Alumot.  As adults, they belonged to the founding nucleus of the Beit Horon settlement. 

After completing his military service as a combat medic in the Air Force Rescue Unit 699 and the Nahal Reconnaissance Squadron, Eliaz completed a bachelor's degree in political science from The Hebrew University of Jerusalem and a master's degree in EU Governance and International Policy from the Catholic University of Leuven, Belgium. Eliaz specializes in Europe-Israel relations, and in 2002 published a thesis on The Role of the European Union in the Resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict.

Political action on behalf of Israel in Brussels and Washington

Eliaz embarked on his mission to rekindle ties between Israel and Europe and empower Israel's friends in Europe as soon as he completed his master's degree. He was a founding member of the Europe Near-East Forum and European Friends of Israel. In 2003, he began working at AIPAC in Washington, DC. He also served as Research Fellow at the Washington Institute for Near Eastern Policy (WINEP). In addition, Eliaz served as Director of Research and Strategic Planning at the Hudson Institute.

During these formative years, 2002-2005, Eliaz shaped his outlook on the advantages of political action over advocacy campaigns, in order to effectively advance Israel's ties with Europe.

Conceptualizing an action plan for promoting Europe-Israel relations

According to Eliaz, political action is the most effective way to advance Israel's interests in Europe. Based on his professional experience in Washington and Brussels, while public advocacy is more easily accessible, it is inherently limited in its ability to influence the outcome policy. Political action, on the other hand, requires diligence and meticulous, strategic planning; it is usually less glamorous and involves taking more risks than public advocacy, while its purpose is to get one’s opponent to adopt a policy or take steps that will eventually serve Israeli interests.

Eliaz’s affinity for the contemporary, united Europe and the EU’s ability to have a favorable impact upon the Middle East, was shaped when he studied and worked in Belgium, in 2001-2003. There, he also experienced anti-Semitism firsthand during the Al-Aksa Intifada. 

Service in the National Security Council

In 2005-2007, Eliaz served as Senior Coordinator for Foreign Policy under National Security Adviser at the time, Maj. Gen. Giora Eiland, reporting to the late Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, and later to Prime Minister Ehud Olmert. The intimate exposure to leadership agendas and patterns of thinking, honed Eliaz’s skill for discerning the strengths and limitations of the government, and identifying areas in which there is a gap between what exists and what is desirable.

Eliaz assisted in preparing the National Security Adviser for strategic dialogues with the United States, Russia, and China. To his surprise, Israel did not have routine dialogues with European countries or the European Union External Affairs Service, which he will later assist in instituting.

Establishment and management of the European Leadership Network (ELNET)

Eliaz founded ELNET in June 2007, first in Brussels, and later in other European capitals – Madrid,  Spain (2008), Paris, France (2010), Berlin, Germany (2013), and Warsaw, Poland (2015). Eliaz also founded ELNET in Israel (2010) and the Forum for Strategic Dialogue (2013) as an offspring of ELNET.

In the years 2007-2017, Eliaz served as the CEO of ELNET, led the strategic planning and execution of its activities, recruited and directed its staff, volunteers and donors.  Mr. Ofer Bozo, a strategic consultant, accompanied the establishment and development of the network. ELNET’s central role was to encourage civilian political activism, to strengthen Europe's ties with Israel. 

Eliaz was instrumental in developing the operational structure of the organization from its inception.  Ha also created unique partnerships with the foreign offices and ministries of defense of France, Germany, Spain and Poland. He successfully initiated ELNET’s Brussels office in order to enhance and cultivate relations with NATO and the European Parliament; increased the number of delegation visits; and developed a more visible role at the Munich Security Conference, Herzliya Conference and The Brussels Forum of the German Marshall Fund.  

Mobilizing political activists

In the years 2008-2012, Eliaz mobilized French citizens to participate in the political process in favor of then President of France, Nicholas Sarkozy, and later to strengthen the position of François Hollande in the race for the leadership of the Socialist Party and subsequently to become the president of France. When Dominique Strauss-Kahn's chances to lead the Socialist Party were severely undermined, it became clear to Eliaz that the Socialist Party could fall into the hands of Martine Aubry. In an unprecedented campaign, French citizens rallied to help Hollande win the party’s leadership and later become the President of France.