Diplomat, Middle East Expert Dennis Ross Discusses Iran Nuclear Deal At Har Zion Temple
By Hadas Kuznits
PENN VALLEY, Pa. (CBS) --- Ambassador Dennis Ross, Former Special Assistant to the President, brought his three decades of Middle East peace-making experience to Har Zion Temple Tuesday evening, where he spoke about the Iran nuclear deal.
Ambassador Ross started his speech by explaining that the deal with Iran is quite complicated.
"I should start by saying this is a 159-page agreement, and I know there are a lot of people that are quick to accept it without reading it, and there are a lot of people who are quick to oppose it without reading it," he said. "I want you to know, I actually read it."
Ross says there are pros to the deal -- but also so-called vulnerabilities that need to be addressed before he makes a determination whether or not he is in favor of it.
"The best thing that flows from this agreement is that for 15 years, Iran really will not have a nuclear weapon," he said.
One of his suggestions was to provide significant military assistance to Israel.
"There's a perception out there that the US is less likely to act militarily, whereas the Israelis would be more likely to act militarily and it's also understandable," he said. "For the Israelis, it truly is an essential question, and the Israelis have established a track record over time that when they see a direct threat, they act against that direct threat."
Paul Finer of Huntington Valley was one of nearly 400 people in attendance. "You know what I'm worried about? My children and grandchildren! They're going to live in a world that I never lived in," he said. "There was very little proliferation of atomic weaponry. Now, the genie's gonna be out of the box!"