Martin Indyk
Martin IndykFlash 90

The man appointed by the U.S. to mediate Israel's “peace talks” with the Palestinian Authority, Martin Indyk, is the co-chairman of the controversial New Israel Fund, which funds a wide range of far-left and anti-Israel groups in Israel and abroad.

The NIF was infamously found to have sponsored left-wing Israeli organizations that provided 92% of the Israel-based quotes which appeared in the Goldstone Report – a United Nations report on Israel's "Cast Lead" counter-terrorism operation which was slammed as one-sided and defamatory of Israel.

Deputy Defense Minister Danny Danon has already sent a letter to Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu opposing the appointment of Indyk as a go-between in the talks.

“The former ambassador, Mr. Martin Indyk, is the Chair of the International Council of the New Israel Fund which provides funding to anti-Zionist organizations that accuse Israel of war crimes,” wrote Danon in the letter.

“I request that you ask the American administration for an honest broker for these negotiations.”

The NIF's critics note that it funds organizations that encourage legal proceedings against Israeli soldiers and officials in various countries, and organizations that are active in the BDS movement and Israel apartheid week.

Ronen Shoval, chairman of Im Tirzu - a grassroots Israel Zionist movement - called on the US administration to replace Indyk, in favour of a "more honest broker."

“Someone who is a board member of the New Israel Fund is completely unsuitable for the position as a mediator in peace talks," he said, and called on the US administration to "appoint someone who is not known to have a relationship with an organization that is known to fund anti-Israel activity, including BDS [calls for boycotts, divestment and sanctions against Israel - ed.] and groups which level libelous accusations against the IDF.”

Shoval also called on American Jews, supporters of Israel and "all those who genuinely care about peace in the Middle East" to push the administration to replace Indyk.

"The Israeli public is already deeply suspicious and sceptical about these talks. Appointing someone from the New Israel Fund to such a crucial position will make them lose faith entirely - they just won't trust someone from the NIF," he added.