US Middle East peace envoy Martin Indyk has resigned following the collapse of Israeli-Palestinian peace talks.
A US official who spoke on condition of anonymity did not provide a reason for Indyk's departure, which had been widely expected after the two sides failed to meet their goal of reaching a comprehensive peace agreement this spring.
Indyk will return to the Washington-based Brookings Institution think tank, the official said.
US Secretary of State John Kerry confirmed on Friday that Indyk was leaving his post as top US envoy to the Israeli-Palestinian peace process.
Kerry praised Indyk and thanked him for his services.
“Ambassador Indyk has invested decades of his extraordinary career to the mission of helping Israelis and Palestinians achieve a lasting peace. It's the cause of Martin's career, and I'm grateful for the wisdom and insight he's brought to our collective efforts," Secretary Kerry noted.
"Martin's simply invaluable, a terrific partner and friend, and he played a vital role in the progress that was made in the negotiations. He'll continue to work for peace, and as we've all said many times, the United States remains committed not just to the cause of peace, but to resuming the process when the parties find a path back to serious negotiations. I am very grateful to Martin for his indefatigable efforts and creativity, and I look forward to continue working closely with him."
Frank Lowenstein, the deputy special envoy, will now serve as the Acting Special Envoy for Israeli-Palestinian Negotiations, the State Department announced.