Are Two States Still an Option? U.S. and the Peace Process with Amb. Dennis Ross

While the peace talks between the Palestinians and the Israelis has been stagnant for years, it has recently become more concerning.  The rapid deterioration followed President Trump’s declaration that Jerusalem is the capital of Israel and his instruction to begin to relocate the US Embassy to Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. In response President Abbas said his people will not accept any role for the United States in the Mideast peace process “from now on”, He called on the United Nations to take charge of the peace process and create a new mechanism, arguing that Washington is no longer “fit” for the task. Some Palestinian leaders even threatened to withdraw formal recognition of Israel and end their security cooperation with Israel. President Abbas refusal to meet Vice President Pence on his visit to the region next week is yet another example of the tension and worsening in relationship between the PA and Trump’s administration.

Ambassador Ross will analyze the status of the peace process, the two state solutions, alternatives, and the relative role of the U.S.

Ambassador Dennis B. Ross played a leading role in shaping U.S. involvement in the Middle East peace process and dealing directly with the parties in negotiations for more than twelve years. 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. Amb Ross is a co-chairman of the Jewish People Policy Institute (JPPI), an independent professional policy planning think tank.