IDI Mourns the Passing of Ambassador Martin Indyk

It is with great sadness and a profound sense of loss that the Israel Democracy Institute mourns the passing of Martin S. Indyk, a longstanding member of its International Advisory Council.

It is with great sadness and a profound sense of loss that the Israel Democracy Institute mourns the passing of Martin S. Indyk, a longstanding member of its International Advisory Council. A prominent statesman and scholar, Ambassador Indyk is best known in Israel for his determined pursuit of peace during two terms as US Ambassador to Israel and a subsequent term as Presidential Envoy. Beyond his major contributions to American diplomacy and historical scholarship, Martin played an outsized role as a policy entrepreneur and think tank executive, helping to shape the trajectory and organizational strategies of a number of major think tanks, both in the US and in Israel. During his years of membership on the Advisory Council, Ambassador Indyk played an active role in honing IDI’s model of impact, strengthening the Institute’s organizational culture and recruiting new stakeholders. His legacy lives on at IDI and at the numerous institutions fortunate to be blessed by his wisdom, insight and perspective.

IDI President Yohanan Plesner:

“Martin was a dear friend and personal mentor to me. He was steadfast in his support for IDI and an unfailing source of advice, counsel and connections. We didn’t always agree on specific policy questions, but I admired him all the more for his candor, courage, and convictions, which were grounded in his genuine love for the State of Israel and its people.
Even in these dark times, as his own condition worsened and Israel found itself in a terrible war, he continued to hold out hope for a better future for Israelis and their neighbors. Martin’s optimism will continue to be a source of encouragement and inspiration for me and many others as we persevere along the difficult road towards democratic renewal, peace and reconciliation.
Our heart goes out to his beloved Gahl, his brother and sister, his children and grandchildren. May his memory be a blessing."