Jews, Israelis loom large among ‘Politico 50’

In the latest “Politico 50” list of “the thinkers, doers and visionaries transforming American politics in 2015,” published Thursday by the influential Washington political magazine, Jews hold pride of place as those driving the ideas and trends in US politics — and even Israeli ambassadors make the cut.

The two names sharing the #12 slot: Israel’s ambassador to the US Ron Dermer and his immediate predecessor in the post MK Michael Oren. They are the only foreign ambassadors on the list, placed there for their roles in the Iran deal campaigns and in the many feuds in recent years between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the Obama White House.

Many prominent Jews also featured on the list, including Senator (and Democratic presidential hopeful) Bernie Sanders at #5, followed by Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg tied for #8, workers’ rights advocate Sara Horowitz (#16), Federal Reserve chief Janet Yellen (#16), Senator Dianne Feinstein (#19), Harvard political scientist Robert Putnam (#21) and Nobel-winning economist Joseph Stiglitz (#36).