Mahmoud Abbas was elected president of the Palestinian Authority in 2005, and became the unofficial president of the State of Palestine in 2008.
Jezebel was a Phoenician princess, later the wife of King Ahab of Israel. She became known for putting on makeup before her death and being a wicked woman.
First appearing in the gospels of Matthew and Luke, St. Joseph was the earthly father of Jesus Christ and the husband of the Virgin Mary.
Golda Meir was best known as the fourth Prime Minister of Israel and the world’s third woman to hold the title.
Benjamin Netanyahu is best known for his service as prime minister of Israel.
President of Israel Shimon Peres was also twice prime minister of Israel and won a Nobel Peace Prize for negotiating the Oslo Accords with Rabin and Arafat.
Israeli classical violinist Itzhak Perlman is one of the 20th century's premier musicians, despite having lost the use of his legs at age 4 due to polio.
Actress Natalie Portman won the 2010 Academy Award for her role as a dancer in Black Swan.
Ariel Sharon is an Israeli statesman and retired general, who served as Israel's 11th prime minister.
St. John the Baptist was a Jewish prophet who preached the imminence of God's final judgment, had several disciples and baptized a number of people.