Dennis Ross, a key architect of the Middle East Oslo Peace Accords, will give an insider's perspective on the triumphs and failures of the Middle East peace process at 7 p.m. Wednesday, April 30, in Freeborn Hall on the UC Davis campus.

The former U.S. special envoy to the Middle East under the Bush and Clinton administrations will speak about his role in the ongoing process toward peace and reconciliation in the Arab-Israeli conflict in a speech titled "Building a Lasting Peace."

Ross is director and Ziegler distinguished fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy. For more than 12 years, he played a leading role in shaping U.S. involvement in the Middle East peace process and dealt directly in negotiations. Representing the United States in both the Republican George Bush and Democratic Bill Clinton administrations, Ross was instrumental in assisting Israelis and Palestinians in reaching the 1995 interim agreement. He also brokered the Hebron Accord in 1997, facilitated the Israel-Jordan peace treaty and worked to bring Israel and Syria together.

There is no charge to attend the event. Ross' visit is made possible through a partnership between the university and several sponsors within the Jewish community. He is principally sponsored by the Hillel at Davis and Sacramento, and the Aggies for Israel student organization. In addition, sponsors include the UC Davis Institute of Governmental Affairs/Institute on Global Conflict and Cooperation, the UC Davis Jewish Studies Program, the UC Davis Campus Community Relations Office, The Jewish Federation of the Sacramento Valley Community Grants, Hillel International Israel Speaker's Program, the Leonard V. Fiedler Hillel Speaker Endowment Fund, Israel Center of the Jewish Community Federation of the Greater East Bay, and the Israel Center of the Jewish Community Federation of San Francisco.

UC Davis student leaders will have an opportunity to visit with Ross during the afternoon at the Hillel House near the UC Davis campus before to his public address. His evening presentation at Freeborn Hall will begin at 7 p.m. The doors will open at 6:30 p.m. for seating.