Below is a recording of our simulation.
Ambassador Dennis Ross played a leading role in shaping U.S. involvement in the Middle East peace process, dealing directly with the parties as the U.S. point man on the peace process in both the George H. W. Bush and Bill Clinton administrations. He served two years as special assistant to President Obama and National Security Council senior director for the Central Region, and a year as special advisor to Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton.
He was the guest speaker at the IPC simulation of September 5,2021.
In each simulation participants assume the role of Israeli prime minister, Hamas leader and Palestinian Authority president. The rest of the participants act as either Palestinian or Israeli IPC Parliament members.
The simulation requires participants to assume that nationwide elections were held for the entire area of Israel, the West Bank, Gaza and Jerusalem. They are further asked to assume that 5 million people voted, 300 Parliament members, president and vice president were elected.
The Parliament accepted the IPC constitution granting a veto power to the Israeli and Palestinian governments over legislation that affects their sovereignty.
Ambassador Ross congratulated the IPC for its spirit of openness and tolerance. He acknowledged that new thinking is required in light of the fact that the conflict has been going on for a long time and no formula for peace has been successful. He noted as a positive that the IPC does not contradict the national identity of the Palestinians or the Israelis. He said in the abstract the IPC blue print might make sense but he questioned how realistic or practical it was given the likely strong opposition from the Israeli and Palestinian governments
