WINEP reports BIGGER role for Dennis Ross

"...Ross’ appointment marks a major setback for those who had hoped that Obama might bring some fresh thinking to Middle East policy, particularly vis-a-vis Iran and Israel-Palestine." Via Jim Lobe, here

To: Members of the Board of Trustees
From: Chairman Fred Lafer, President Howard Berkowitz, and ExecutiveDirector Robert Satloff
Re: Ambassador Dennis Ross to Join Obama Administration

We are delighted to share the news that Ambassador Dennis Ross, counselor and Ziegler Distinguished Fellow at The Washington Institute, has accepted an invitation to join the Obama administration as ambassador-at-large and senior advisor to Secretary of State-designate Hillary Clinton.

In that seventh-floor job, designed especially for him, Ambassador Rosswill be the secretary’s top advisor on a wide range of Middle East issues, from the Arab-Israeli peace process to Iran. Ambassador Ross will not reprise his previous role as special Arab-Israeli peace envoy, a post that
will be held by someone else; rather he will be working closely
with both the special envoy and the secretary. Ambassador Ross is expected to take his post immediately after inauguration.

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