As Israel celebrates 57 years of independence, Haaretz.com presents its list of the 10 figures who have most influenced the development of the Jewish state.We invite our readers to respond and add their comments to our choices, and to challenge them with selections and lists of their own.
1. DAVID BEN-GURION
Israel's founding prime minister; disbanded pre-state right-wing and left-wing undergrounds, at times by force, to forge a unified IDF.2. MENACHEM BEGIN
Firebrand rightist and onetime underground leader who ended three decades of Labor rule in 1977; two years later, signed peace treaty with Egypt.3. YITZHAK RABIN
Army chief during 1967 Six-Day War; long seen as leader of Labor hawks, signed Oslo Accords and peace treaty with Jordan in the mid-1990s.4. ANWAR SADAT
Egyptian leader who stunned Israel with 1973 Yom Kippur attack; stunned Israel again in 1977 by visiting Jerusalem; signed peace treaty in 1979.5. ARIEL SHARON
Controversial soldier turned statesman; foremost architect of the settlements and also the only leader to have dismantled them - in Sinai; plans to do so again in Gaza and the northern West Bank in the summer.6. YASSER ARAFAT
Founder of the PLO and father figure of Palestinian statehood; Israel's enemy turned peace-making partner turned enemy again.7. RABBI ZVI YEHUDA KOOK
Prophet of Greater Israel, his teachings inspired the modern religious settlement movement in the territories.8. GOLDA MEIR
One of the first female heads of government in the modern era; led Israel during the 1973 war, held fast against talks with Palestinians.9. SHIMON PERES
Spearheaded Israel's nuclear program; as defense minister, oversaw 1976 Entebbe rescue; strove for peace agreements with the Arab states; subdued hyper-inflation in the 1980s.10. AMOS OZ
Writer whose novels and essays, widely translated, have introduced Israelis to the world, and to each other.(other links on source page)
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