Mark Regev ‘excited’ as he assumes role as Israeli ambassador to UK

4 April 2016, 2:02 pm

The new Israeli ambassador to the UK Mark Regev has arrived to take up his post.

The new envoy to Britain said he is ‘excited to be here’, upon presenting his credentials at the Foreign Office in London on Monday.

It was announced in August 2015 that Regev, a former foreign media spokesman for the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, would succeed Daniel Taub as the ambassador.

President of the Board of Deputies of British Jews Jonathan Arkush, welcomed Israel’s new ambassador. He said: “We are delighted that Prime Minister Netanyahu has chosen someone as high calibre as Mark Regev to serve as Israeli Ambassador to the United Kingdom.

“Over the years Mr Regev has worked tirelessly to ensure that Israel’s voice is heard in the international media, never shying away from tough questions and setting out Israel’s case with clarity and erudition. His deep knowledge of the Middle East and Europe stand him in good stead and we very much look forward to working with him in his new role.”

Simon Johnson, Chief Executive of the Jewish Leadership Council said: “The JLC welcomes Mark Regev to his new role as Israel’s Ambassador to the United Kingdom.  He brings with him a wealth of experience. That the Israeli Government has placed such a high profile advocate in the UK shows how vital the UK-Israel trade and cultural relationship continues to be.”

“The JLC warmly welcomes the new Ambassador and look forward to our work with him to grow the incredibly strong Jewish Community bond with Israel, as he aims to progress the important political links between our two countries.”

The Zionist Federation chairman Paul Charney added that he was ‘delighted’ that Mark Regev we gave an opportunity to strengthen Israel and Britain’s “unbreakable historical bonds”.

“Having tested his mettle as the Prime Minister’s spokesperson, he is the perfect candidate to articulate the case for ever improved relations between these two democracies. And how fortunate we are to have him here in the UK in the run-up to next year’s centenary of the Balfour Declaration!”

As a spokesman, Regev was well known for being a regular feature on TV screens during conflicts in Gaza, putting Israel’s case on programmes including Newsnight.

Before joining the prime minister’s office in 2007, he spent three years as foreign ministry spokesman, and also served at the Israeli embassies in Beijing and Washington.

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