Israel at 60

Editor in chief, U.S. News & World Report

If there is an absence of war, Israeli society will continue to develop and become more integrated, mitigating divisions between its orthodox and non-orthodox, and Arab and Jewish populations, and between rich and poor. Over time, there will be a de facto and maybe even a de jure if not an emotional acceptance of a two-state solution — if not by agreement, which will be very difficult for any Palestinian leader given the radicalism and incitement of hatred within that community, then some modus vivendi of live -and-let-live in which people begin to focus on building their own lives rather than destroying Israel.

I believe there is a special moral leadership role that Israel must provide for the Jewish communities around the world, inspiring them to continue to value the fact that they are members of the Jewish community in whatever country they are and still honor their Jewish traditions — not necessarily in orthodoxy of religious practices, but in the recognition of thousands of years of a very unique history that has in times of peace and prosperity enabled the Jewish community to make a huge contribution to the welfare of the world.