The White House has appointed former US Ambassador to Israel Dr. Martin Indyk as the liaison to oversee the renewed talks between Israeli and PA (Palestinian Authority) negotiators. Indyk will use his vast experience to serve as the go-between, the man that government officials hope will prevail over the negotiators who are likely to lock heads early into the talks. These talks, which are intended to produce a final status agreement, are scheduled to continue for nine months.

US Secretary of State John Kerry was please to announce the Indyk appointment, confident he will prove to be the right man for the job as the Mideast negotiations is a familiar playing field for the seasoned diplomat.

Indyk did not waste time and he has already released statements to the media commending the leaders of Israel and the PA for making the correct decision to return to the negotiating table. “Perhaps we may yet be able to tell all those young Israeli and Palestinians who yearn for a better tomorrow that this time we actually made it” he added.

However, just 18 months ago, as he attended a Hebrew University conference, Indyk stated “I am not particularly optimistic because I think at the heart of the matter is the maximum concessions this government of Israel would be prepared to make for far short of the minimum requirements that Abu Mazen will insist on. So it may be possible to keep the talks going but I find it very hard to believe they will reach an agreement.”

Video of Secretary Kerry appointing Indyk:

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)