Dennis Ross

"And in terms of the peace process, if you dont engage, then by definition, Hamas becomes stronger. Weve seen that. Senator Obama wont deal with a non-state actor like Hamas unless Hamas changes its position, unless its prepared to recognize Israel, unless it makes it clear [that] it gives up on terror, unless its prepared to recognize previous agreements."

"With regard to the Iranians, we know that by not talking to Iran the U.S. did not improve the situation. Today Iran is a nuclear power - it doesnt have nuclear weapons yet, but in 2001 it was not yet able to convert uranium or uranium gas, it didnt have a single centrifuge. Now its stockpiling highly enriched uranium. So the current approach of not talking hasnt worked. There’s no guarantee that if you talk youll succeed, but if you don’t talk you will fail."

"In the past, I might have favored a cease-fire with Hamas during a conflict with Israel. But today it is clear to me that peace is not going to be possible now or in the future as long as Hamas remains intact and in control of Gaza. Hamass power and ability to threaten Israel — and subject Gazan civilians to ever more rounds of violence — must end."

"On the question of Israel, I talk about what I saw during his trip to Israel, how I saw his [Barack Obamas] understanding of the relationship with Israel - he would describe it as a commitment of the head and heart. He looks at Israel and sees us as being two countries with common values. But he also looks at Israel and sees that whatever threatens Israel also happens to threaten the United States. So we have a [common] interest, because we end up facing the same threats."

"You dont talk to Ahmadinejad. First of all, he’s not the decision maker. When Senator Obama suggests that he would be prepared to meet with him, he says such a meeting first has to be prepared. What he means is that you have to coordinate with your allies - all your allies. Secondly, it means you have to check whether you can put together an agenda for a lower-level meeting. If it becomes clear that you can’t put together such an agenda, then you don’t hold a meeting at a high level - the presidential level - because it’s not going to lead anywhere. But if you can produce something that you know will lead somewhere, then it’s silly not to do that."

"Israel is not alone in believing it must defeat Hamas. Over the past two weeks, when I talked to Arab officials throughout the region whom I have long known, every single one told me that Hamas must be destroyed in Gaza. They made clear that if Hamas is perceived as winning, it will validate the group’s ideology of rejection, give leverage and momentum to Iran and its collaborators and put their own governments on the defensive. But they said this in private. Their public postures have been quite different."