We could also (but most of us would not have the courage to) add Medinas Yisrael as one of the greatest Macharivei Torah in recent history and in the present. ViKal Lihavin, despite the welfare state that is gradually disappearing in there.
Those who live in Israel and benefit from them do owe them hakaras hatov for that; but let’s be quite clear: An American Jew owes hakaras HaTov, gratitude, to the United States of America, under whose protection, and on whose land, that Jew lives. That same America Jew owes NOTHING to the State of Israel, the Palestinian Authority, Turkey, or any other foreign sovereignty, unless that person has benefited from that State.