AJE's speaks to Martin Indyk, former US diplomat to Israel

Martin Indyk is a UK-born, former US ambassador to Israel. He speaks to Al Jazeera's Teymoor Nabili about issues in the Middle East.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• AJE
• aljazeera
• Al Jazeera
• Martin Indyk
• US
• diplomat. Israel
• Teymoor Nabili
• Iran

[Iker888]

@Dubwise78 hehe yea, sometimes people get carried away with with anonymity. Maybe the US government wanted to purposely stress their ties with Israel with the appointment, I mean, their discourse is far from conciliatory, they have allies and rivals in the region and they stick to them. I would dare say that if Israel had oil the US would not risk appointing an AIPAC protégé. When the US really wants something it doesn't shy out; but I'm really digressing now with this playful supposition.

[Dubwise78]

@Iker888 Far be it for me to argue with such reasoned, polite comments, LOL, very un-Youtube. U are probably right, who really knows for sure. However, no one can deny, that the US / UK aren't regarded as honest brokers in a conflict which creates such blow back. There doesn't seem to be much of a pretence at impartiality anymore. And these ambassador positions reinforce this impression. would you ever see an Arab American as ambassador to Israel, or Palestine (if it was a state - another story)

[Iker888]

@Dubwise78 That is a very legitimate concern, and it may well be he has a bias, but we cannot say for sure, especially with countries that have such close ties like the US and Israel. Regardless, I do think it unliekely he took action that disfavoured the US, and while you could say the US took action that disfavoured them in relation to Israel, it was Congress who acted upon it. 

[Dubwise78]

@Iker888 Maybe, but in the UK it was policy not to appoint Catholics to the Vatican, and not to appoint Jews to Israel, for fear of dual loyalty or the appearance of it. Especially in countries that are in conflict with other allies, it is important to maintain the appearance of independence, no bias. This guy is not only Jewish - and dont tell me Jews dont have a strong attachment / bias to Israel, he was an AIPAC operative, an Israel lobbyist.

[malcolmx28]

There will come a day and that day is very soon - when the Masses will see clearly that Zionism is the biggest threat to World Peace and they will do something about it - resulting in the end of Zionism.

[Iker888]

@Dubwise78 It's not strange to appoint a diplomat with ethnic, cultural, or linguistic ties to another country, it really facilitates diplomacy. And whether he was a covert agent or not, as romanticized as that idea sounds, doesn't really have much to do with the man's understanding of the region. You really think he's promoting an agenda in this talk?

[Iker888]

@jmsbrgg Strangely enough, if there is little or no economic interest there is little to no bias on the assessment regarding Syria.

So the west will be much more prudent and think of the geopolitical implications, and how it could eventually affect the balance of the region, and ultimately that of the oil rich countries. Not to mention the rather traumatic experience of the military incursions in the past decade, which will hold them back.

[jmsbrgg]

1:55 in and Im confused, he did just say fear of what would happen afterwards yes? Since when has that stopped the west from marching in and blowing shit up. I think Im done with this one already

[Dubwise78]

How in gods name can a British ex-AIPAC employee, Jewish no less, be appointed ambassador to Israel. No chance of bias there.

And what happens? - 'Indyk was the first United States ambassador to be stripped of a security clearance. Indyk was under investigation for improperly handling sensitive material.' His clearance was reinstated by Madeline Allbright, LOL. No doubt another zio-con passing secrets to Israel. Middle East expert, yeah right. Israeli operative more like.

[Misterphooey]

AL JAZEERA. MARTIN INDYK speaks like an Aussie. are you sure he's UK born?