All Policy Analysis by Dennis Ross

Israelis and Palestinians are fighting an escalating war with no end in sight. The more force is used, the less secure Israelis become. The more violence is employed as a tactic, the more pain Palestinians suffer and the less likely they are to see Israeli occupation end any time soon

On March 1, 2002, Dennis Ross, Patrick Clawson, and Matthew Levitt addressed The Washington Institute's Special Policy Forum. Dr. Clawson and Ambassador Ross are, respectively, director for research and counselor/Ziegler distinguished fellow at the Institute. The following is a rapporteur's summary of their remarks. Read a summary of Mr. Levitt's

A number of Israelis and Palestinians have come to me in the past few weeks seeking a way out of the ever more depressing situation in which they find themselves trapped. Each day's headlines seem to get worse. Yesterday, Israelis retaliated for the killing of six of their soldiers at

Yasser Arafat sits in Ramallah a virtual prisoner. The master of the half measure is now paying the price for failing to make a strategic choice for peace. A year ago he could not say yes to the Clinton ideas -- ideas that would have given the Palestinians an independent

Secretary Powell's November 19 speech did not introduce any new substantive points into the debate. However, it outlined for the first time the Bush administration's view regarding the situation in the Middle East. It also offered some important symbolic points that could provide Yasir Arafat a means of ending the

In his long-anticipated speech on the Middle East yesterday, Secretary of State Colin Powell reminded both Arabs and Israelis of certain basic realities: that there can be no peace without unequivocal recognition of Israel's right to exist as a Jewish state within secure borders; that Israel is entitled to security

In 1990, Saddam Hussein claimed that he had invaded Kuwait to help the Palestinians. He understood that he was isolated and needed to link his invasion to a cause that might appear legitimate. While his claim was absurd on its face, the United States had to fight the linkage argument

Testimony before the House Committee on International Relations The horrific attack on America is a defining moment not just for us, but also for the world. It was an attack on civilization. It was an attack on humanity. It requires a change in our mindset. We are no longer countering

On September 13, 2001, Robert Satloff and Dennis Ross addressed a special Washington Institute briefing on the September 11 terrorist attacks.

On August 8, 2001, Dennis Ross, counselor and distinguished fellow at The Washington Institute and former special Middle East coordinator in the Clinton administration, addressed queries posed by Margaret Warner and Jim Hoagland during a special question-and-answer session. The following are excerpts from the discussion. Read a full transcript. On

Secretary of State Colin Powell returned from the Middle East having won agreement between Israelis and Palestinians for a seven-day period of calm before a six-week cooling off period is to begin. But there is no calm. The violence continues daily, with each side accusing the other of violations. Without

The Bush administration confronts a certain context on the ground in Israel and the Palestinian territories: Increasing violence. The violence gets worse and worse, and seems to have a logic and momentum of its own. There has been a descent into what may only be described as "communal violence." Leaders

We are witnessing a progressive deterioration in the Middle East. New thresholds of violence are regularly crossed. President Bush speaks of our efforts to try to bring the situation under control, but the security meetings we organize, the limited understandings we promote and the statements we make are quickly overwhelmed

Robert Satloff, The Washington Institute: Let me open, Senator, by turning to you. It is, as they say, approaching the 100-day mark. How would you evaluate the direction that the Bush administration has taken so far vis-Ã -vis the Middle East? Sam Brownback: I really don't think that the Bush

Over the past twelve years a revolution has taken place in the landscape of peacemaking in the Middle East. Twelve years ago, direct negotiations were non-existent and there was no peace process. While negotiations themselves do not ensure an agreement, their total absence ensures that there can be no resolution

Israel. Gen. Ehud Barak was elected with a remarkable mandate. The Israeli electorate decided that Israel was stuck on several fronts -- social issues, the economy, and peace -- and needed a new prime minister to get things moving. Change cannot be expected immediately, though, and Barak deserves time to

I am appearing here tonight at what can only be described as an interesting time. There has been an election in Israel and there is a new prime minister, Ehud Barak, who won with a remarkable mandate. It is fair to say that the Israeli electorate perceived that the country

As the U.S.-USSR summit approaches, the Middle East has suddenly appeared on the agenda. For the first time, the Reagan Administration must deal with the unpleasant prospect of recreating a Soviet role in the Mideast peace process through an international conference. This premier issue of Policy Focus focuses on the

Executive Summary Although the disincentives to war are great among the parties to the Arab-Israeli conflict, there is little prospect of real movement toward peace. THE REGIONAL CONTEXT: 'NO WAR, NO PEACE' Israel is preoccupied with the withdrawal from Lebanon and its economic crisis. However, Peres may wish to precipitate