The Man With The Plan

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Other critics focus on his secretiveness. Famous for that closely held binder and his lack of a paper trail, Ross shares only with his immediate superiors--Clinton, Berger and Albright--the most sensitive information on talks, and some say the lack of witnesses and signed documents leaves him vulnerable to those who would go back on their word. But most colleagues say such tactics are an asset, not a liability. "It makes his role all the more essential," says Ed Abington, a former member of Ross's team. In fact, the joke at State is that essential Ross has found lifetime employment in trying to bring peace to the Middle East, where deals take decades to mature. But if he manages a pact this week, he'll happily be one step closer to needing a new job.

--With reporting by Eric Silver and Jamil Hamad/Jerusalem, Jay Branegan and Douglas Waller/Washington and William Dowell/New York