Former US diplomat Martin Indyk dead at 73

By 
 July 26, 2024

The Clinton family was presumably saddened this week to learn of the passing of a former special assistant to Bill Clinton during his administration.

According to Politico, Martin Indyk, a former US diplomat and leader at several think tanks, died at 73 this week, his family announced.

His death was reported by his wife, Gahl Hodges Burt, who confirmed that he passed due to complications from esophageal cancer.

Burt said her husband passed away at their residence in New Fairfield, Connecticut.

Interesting career

Indyk reportedly spent much of his career seeking a path for peace in the Middle East, and spent his time at various think tanks and other organizations, including Clinton's administration, pursuing those goals.

The Council on Foreign Relations, where Indyk had been a distinguished fellow in U.S. and Middle East diplomacy for nearly six years, described as a "rare, trusted voice within an otherwise polarized debate on U.S. policy toward the Middle East."

He also completed similar work for former President Barack Obama, according to Politico.

A native of Australia, Indyk served as U.S. ambassador to Israel from 1995 to 1997 and from 2000 to 2001. He was special envoy for the Israeli-Palestinian negotiations during former President Barack Obama’s administration, from 2013 to 2014.

Indyk was especially involved in Israel-Palestinian relations. Then-Secretary of State John Kerry praised him during his time working as a special adviser to the president on that particular subject.

"Ambassador Indyk has invested decades of his extraordinary career to the mission of helping Israelis and Palestinians achieve a lasting peace. It’s the cause of Martin’s career, and I’m grateful for the wisdom and insight he’s brought to our collective efforts," Kerry said at the time.

Hard on Israel

Like many on the left, Indyk was not fond of Israel or its leader, Benjamin Netanyahu. He published several posts on his X account blasting the Israel prime minister in the wake of the country's counterattack against the cowardly Hamas terrorists.

He was one of the voices on the left urging Congress to cancel Netanyahu's address to Congress.

"Israel is at war on four fronts: with Hamas in Gaza; with Houthis in Yemen; with Hezbollah in Lebanon; and with Iran overseeing the operations," Indyk wrote on June 19. "What does Netanyahu do? Attack the United States based on a lie that he made up! The Speaker and Leader should withdraw his invitation to address Congress until he recants and apologizes."

He was remembered across social media by those who subscribed to his views.

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