Martin Indyk to represent US at Israeli-Palestinian peace talks

Former Ambassador Indyk said to be an accepted mediator by both PM Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian President Abbas.

 

Former U.S. ambassador to Israel Martin Indyk might be appointed the U.S. representative at Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations, American blogger Laura Rozen reported Sunday, quoting diplomatic sources.

Martin Indyk speaks during U.S.- Islamic World Forum in Doha, June 2013.

Martin Indyk speaks during U.S.- Islamic World Forum in Doha, June 2013. – Photo: Reuter

Writing in Al-Monitor website, Rozen suggested the U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry was considering appointing Indyk, who also served as the Clinton’s administration’s assistant secretary of state for Near Eastern Affairs as the man in charge of the day to day negotiations.

Rozen added that a final decision was yet to be reached, but that after getting the parties back to the table, Kerry would now “determine the right combination of players to work with the parties, knowing it’s going to be a slog and that he can’t carry it on his own shoulders day in and day out.”

Five hours after Rozen’s initial report, Israeli channels 2 and 10 reported that Indyk would be appointed. Channel 2 added that both Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas had approved of the choice.

Indyk, born to a Jewish family in London, but raised in Australia is currently Vice President and Director for Foreign Policy at the Brookings Institution in Washington D.C. During the time of the Clinton administration he served two terms as ambassador to Israel, and was Assistant Secretary of State for Near East Affairs.

Indyk has remained in contact throughout the years with both Netanyahu and Abbas, and has made it a habit to meet with both leaders when he visits Israel.

 

View original HAARETZ publication at: http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/1.537068