Experts
Dennis Ross
Special Advisor, U.S. State Department
Ross mourns an atmosphere so poisonous that Democrats and Republicans can't agree on the basics. Read More
Ross wants to ask Nelson Mandela how how he retained his capacity to see the needs of the other, rather than being consumed by hate. Read More
Mearshimer and Walt's book on the Israeli lobby has an ideologically-driven, rather than fact-based approach, says Ross. Read More
Although the Iranian elite wants nuclear weapons, Ross says, not all of them want it at any price. Read More
America and Israel agree on the need for peace, says Ross. Read More
A state that emerged from the horrors of the Holocaust, Israel is still dealing with questions of legitimacy, reconciliation, and terror. Read More
Climate change has repercussions in poverty, health, refugee flows, and security. Read More
We need a comprehensive, three-fold approach, Ross says. Read More
We need to be effective in a way that makes it seem we are acting in everyone's best interests, Ross says. Read More
Start with climate change. Read More
Dennis Ross talks about the what and the how of diplomacy. Read More
We need to be clear about what it takes to be able to get others to join with us. Read More
We should all ask ourselves what we can do on a daily basis to make things better, Dennis Ross says. Read More
We need to become identified again with the broader public good. Read More
Working on the Arab-Israeli conflict makes everything else look easy. Read More
The domino effect of climate change. Read More
As a negotiator, Ross became a believer in the forces of personality and technology. Read More
It is important to have a passion in life that's bigger than yourself, says Ross. Read More
Ross is motivated by the human price of conflict. Read More
Ross hopes his work will help people resolve conflict in an analytical and productive manner. Read More
About Dennis Ross
Dennis Ross is an American diplomat and author. He has served as the Director of Policy Planning in the State Department under President George H. W. Bush, the special Middle East coordinator under President Bill Clinton, and is currently a special adviser for the Persian Gulf and Southwest Asia (that includes Iran) to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
Ambassador Dennis Ross is The Washington Institute's counselor and Ziegler distinguished fellow. For more than twelve years, Ambassador Ross played a leading role in shaping U.S. involvement in the Middle East peace process and dealing directly with the parties in negotiations. A highly skilled diplomat, Ambassador Ross was U.S. point man on the peace process in both the George H. W. Bush and Bill Clinton administrations. He was instrumental in assisting Israelis and Palestinians to reach the 1995 Interim Agreement; he also successfully brokered the 1997 Hebron Accord, facilitated the 1994 Israel-Jordan peace treaty, and intensively worked to bring Israel and Syria together.
A scholar and diplomat with more than two decades of experience in Soviet and Middle East policy, Ambassador Ross worked closely with Secretaries of State James Baker, Warren Christopher, and Madeleine Albright. Prior to his service as special Middle East coordinator under President Clinton, Ambassador Ross served as director of the State Department's Policy Planning Staff in the first Bush administration. In that capacity, he played a prominent role in U.S. policy toward the former Soviet Union, the unification of Germany and its integration into NATO, arms control negotiations, and the 1991 Gulf War coalition. During the Reagan administration, he served as director of Near East and South Asian affairs on the National Security Council staff and deputy director of the Pentagon's Office of Net Assessment. Ambassador Ross was awarded the Presidential Medal for Distinguished Federal Civilian Service by President Clinton, and Secretaries Baker and Albright presented him with the State Department's highest award.