Statement of President Joe Biden on the Passing of Ambassador Martin S. Indyk

Martin Indyk dedicated his life to the pursuit of peace. 

Raised in Australia, Martin made Aliyah in 1973, moving to Israel and volunteering on a kibbutz. He chose to devote his career to the work of building peace between Israel and its Arab neighbors, inspired by the aftermath of the Yom Kippur War. His commitment to peace was rooted in witnessing that conflict and realizing that Israel’s existence is fragile, peace is the only path to lasting security, and the United States must be a part of that endeavor.

As a member of President Clinton’s National Security Council and two-time U.S. Ambassador to Israel, Martin played an essential role in the Oslo Accords and the follow-on negotiations – the closest that Israelis and Palestinians have ever come to making peace. He was also America’s Ambassador to Israel on that fateful day in 1995 when Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin was assassinated. Martin rushed to the hospital to console Rabin’s wife Leah – representing the American people’s empathy and grief at a pivotal moment.

He and I worked together during the Obama-Biden Administration, when Martin served as Special Envoy for Israeli-Palestinian Negotiations – the last time the two parties engaged seriously on final status negotiations. More recently, he has been a voice of clarity and conviction since the horrific October 7^thattack by Hamas and during the war in Gaza. His legacy lives on in the many officials across my Administration who were mentored by Martin and learned firsthand from his vast knowledge, integrity, and heart. His unshakeable optimism and commitment to peace is as important today as it’s ever been.

Jill and I are holding Martin’s family in our thoughts – especially his beloved wife Gahl, his children Jacob and Sarah, stepchildren Christopher and Caroline, brother and sister, and five grandchildren. May his memory be a blessing. 

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