The AAI: Ross out of Mid-East affairs

The Arab American Institute in Washington has expressed its concerns on Friday about Dennis Ross’s continued advisory role with the Obama Administration. “It is surprising and troubling that we learn today that Dennis Ross remains an adviser to the Obama Administration on sensitive Middle East issues,” a press release from the Institute says.  Mr Ross resigned from his role as Mid-East special adviser last November, following alleged tensions with special envoy Senator George Mitchell who also stepped down.  The Arab American Institute stated that they have been against Ross’s appointment since the beginning, feeling that it was the time for a new leadership as Ross had been failing to achieve the peace in the Middle East for two decades. “The fact that Ross was deeply involved in the leadership of unabashedly pro-Israel organizations has called into question his objectivity and ability to be an impartial negotiator,” the press release reads. “When he resigned last year, […] we hoped that the administration would take a different tack. Apparently they have not,” the Arab American Institute concluded.