Middle East, explained.
Martin Indyk, then US ambassador to Israel in March 2001, meets with Israeli Prime Minister-elect Ariel Sharon in Tel Aviv (Michael Kremer/Yedioth Aharanoth/AFP via Getty)
A scholar, a statesman, and a relentless policy entrepreneur. Above all, he was committed to a solution to the Israeli-Palestinian dispute.
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Martin Indyk, peacemakerMartin Indyk, peacemaker
The Israeli-Palestinian tragedy is provoking and polarising passions more than ever before. All over the world, people compelled to identify unconditionally with one side or the other support maximal demands for all of the land between Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea.
It was not ever thus. Diplomatic progress was made from the early 1990s, sometimes in quiet negotiations and sometimes formal peace conferences. The process was far from linear but it broke taboos, produced practical ideas and closed gaps.
Indyk will be sorely missed by the peacemakers. His view of Israeli-Palestinian conflict as a problem that must be solved, and his commitment to realising the two-state solution, is increasingly rare. But it is needed now more than ever.
Martin Indyk was there for all of it: as a scholar, statesman and relentless policy entrepreneur.
Indyk was raised in Australia and worked at Macquarie University and the Office of National Assessments before moving to the United States in the early 1980s. After working for the America-Israel Public Affairs Committee he founded the Washington Institute for Near East Policy before moving again to establish a new program at the Brookings Institution. After becoming a US citizen in 1993 he served in several Democratic administrations, including as US ambassador to Israel twice (1995-1997 and 2000-2001) and as Special Envoy for Israeli-Palestinian negotiations from 2013.
Indyk was passionate about the Israeli-Palestinian dispute but not dogmatic. He was far less interested in advocacy than in practical problem solving. He didn’t surround himself with those he agreed with or shy away from an argument, most recently on Twitter/X. He was constantly testing his opinions and engaged rather than dismissed his opponents (with the possible recent exception of Benjamin Netanyahu). Indyk’s views evolved over time. His empathy for the Palestinians grew and he became more committed to the two-state solution, even as others gave up.
Indyk will be sorely missed by the peacemakers. His view of Israeli-Palestinian conflict as a problem that must be solved, and his commitment to realising the two-state solution, is increasingly rare. But it is needed now more than ever.
About the author
Ben Scott
Ben Scott is a Senior Advisor at the Australian National University’s National Security College.
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