According to Ross, the U.S. should “shepherd” the Israeli-Palestinian conversations so that “understandings are reached and [things are] understood in the same way.”

Ross added that in the past as now, the U.S. should be more assertive as a third-party observer to ensure that each side commit to the terms it agreed to in the agreement.

At the same time, Ross warned of the dangers of quick solutions and activation of international deployment forces.

“I don’t believe that regime change will have anything [to do] with the peace process,” says Shikaki about recent events in Palestine.

Although Palestinians desire political reform and the gradual removal of Arafat, Shikaki said, they would look favorably upon a U.S,-implemented regime change.

Ross said that he doesn’t see any immediate impacts of recent events in Iraq for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict besides the Israelis not having to face an Eastern front.

Recent changes in Palestine, along with the possibility of changing leadership make this a good time to “push reform movements.”

Those in the crowd said they found the panel’s analysis helpful.

“It was very insightful to have these three individuals come together,” says first-year Ph.D. candidate in the Committee for the Study of Religion Atalia Omer.

“It’s encouraging that there is such a systemic examination of the Oslo Negotiations,” Omer said.

Yesterday’s discussion was moderated by Harvard professor and director of the KSG Middle East Peace Project Brian Mandell.