Ross: Bold Steps Needed To Keep Israel Jewish and Democratic

By Barak Ravid (Haaretz) June 22, 2011

United States President Barack Obama’s special assistant, Dennis Ross said Wednesday that bold steps need to be taken to make sure that Israel remains a Jewish Democratic state, but emphasized that no one can force an agreement on Israel and the Palestinians.

Speaking at the Presidential Conference in Jerusalem, Ross said the greatest danger Israel faces today is sitting aside and waiting for something to happen. In order to stop the delegitimization of Israel in the world, Ross said that Israel must return to the negotiating table.

Ross and U.S. diplomat David Hale are due to meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his advisers to push for the renewal of Mideast peace talks.

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