To become "willfully blind" one first has to know and understand what one becomes "willfully blind" to - thus one must have "seen" it beforehand to gain such knowledge and understanding. More, one could even claim that to have gotten such knowledge one must have a better than 20/20 eyesight. Hence the term is an oxymoron at best.
Based on his contradictory replies, there is only one conclusion that can be drawn regarding the absence of any analysis of these two dynamics in his book. Ross knows perfectly well that Arafat used terrorism both tactically and strategically to strengthen his political and military position, to solidify his base of support, to raise his stature as a fighter for Arab causes, and to undermine any progress toward a move from dealing to making a deal. But Ross also knows that Arafat never intended to make a deal. He knows that Arafat used every trick in his arsenal to manipulate the Elder Bush and Clinton and their entourages, and they all, including Ross, fell for it….or better, put up with it, tolerated it. They never called him on it. But worse, they know that if they would have called him on it, the course of negotiations might have gone differently.
And perhaps worst of all, it is clear in hindsight (that hindsight which Ross omits) that by turning a blind eye to Arafat’s machinations, by pretending that it was Israel that had to be cajoled into more flexibility, more concessions, more risk-taking, by acting like the dog every time that Arafat rang the doorbell, they were empowering Arafat, enhancing his stature, supporting him before his constituency, weakening the already meager forces of democracy within the Palestinian Authority, and making it easier and easier for Arafat to avoid compromise, to forestall a deal.
The willful blindness of the American team, led by Dennis Ross, actually undermined the very process that they were supposed to be advancing. Ross et al are very much to blame for Arafat’s ability to keep the Intifada going, and thus to blame as well for the death of hundreds of Israelis.
So Ross omits these dynamics, because he does not want to admit the abysmal failure of his policies and does not want to acknowledge the horrendous harm for which he and his team are responsible.