Kerry presents Marin Indyk as Mid-East peace envoy

The US Secretary of State John Kerry Monday presented two-time ambassador to Israel Martin Indyk as US Special Envoy for the Israeli-Palestinian negotiations. Veteran adviser Frank Lowenstein will assist him as deputy and as his own senior adviser, he said. The announcement came hours before the Israeli and Palestinian teams were due to meet in Washington with Kerry and put in place the procedures and time table for the coming talks. The special envoy, said Kerry, would accompany the talks everywhere they take place. Indyk said he was grateful for the opportunity to help achieve “a full-fledged peace” between the Israelis and the Palestinians.