Ambassador Dennis Ross has dealt with every Israeli prime minister for the past thirty years. Having the unusual distinction of being a political appointee for two Republican and two Democratic presidents_-Reagan, Bush 41, Clinton, and Obama--he developed close relationships with five Israeli prime ministers: Yitzhak Rabin, Shimon Peres, Ehud Barak, Ariel Sharon, and Benjamin Netanyahu. Few people know the history of Israel, its efforts on peace, or its relations with the Arabs and the region better.

Dennis Ross and David Makovsky's new book, Be Strong and of Good Courage: How Israel's Most Important Leaders Shaped Its Destiny, came out on Sept. 3, 2019 to immediate acclaim. The book is an inspiring history of those moments when Israel, a country born in existential peril, faced choices that required extraordinary acts of leadership and judgment to secure its future. The story chronicles four of Israel's most important leaders - David Ben-Gurion, Menachem Begin, Yitzhak Rabin and Ariel Sharon - each of whom made historic decisions in the face of fierce opposition. Hear authors Ross and Makovsky provide fascinating portraits of these founding figures - their conviction, character and their political courage - and the lessons their decisions could provide Israel's leaders today as they confront the fateful choice needed to preserve Israel as a Jewish and democratic state.