AGE 64: Benjamin Netanyahu

Prime Minister of Israel

What makes him powerful: As the leader of one of the world's most religiously and geopolitically fraught nations, Netanyahu has his hands in nearly every Middle Eastern crisis. He recently froze contact with the Palestinian government in retaliation for recent moves aimed at gaining greater international support for statehood — crippling the U.S.-mediated peace talks that are set to expire at the end of the month. This leaves Netanyahu sitting squarely between two roles: historic peacemaker and mayor of Israel.