Mark Regev (Hebrew: מארק רגב; born 1960) is an Israeli diplomat and civil servant who is currently a visiting fellow at the Institute for National Security Studies. In September 2021, Regev started a weekly column in the Jerusalem Post.[1] In June 2020, he became the Prime Minister's Senior Advisor for Foreign Affairs and International Communications in the Israeli Prime Minister's Office. He previously was the International Spokesperson for the Prime Minister's Office from 2007 to 2015. Regev was also Ambassador of Israel to the United Kingdom from 2016 to 2020.
Mark Regev | |
|---|---|
מארק רגב | |
 | |
| Ambassador of Israel to the United Kingdom | |
| In office April 2016 – 2020 | |
| President | Reuven Rivlin |
| Prime Minister | Benjamin Netanyahu |
| Preceded by | Daniel Taub |
| Succeeded by | Tzipi Hotovely |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Mark Freiberg 1960 (age 61–62) Melbourne, Victoria, Australia |
| Citizenship | Israel |
| Spouse(s) | Vered Regev |
| Children | 3 |
| Education | Mount Scopus Memorial College |
| Alma mater | Melbourne University Hebrew University of Jerusalem Boston University |
| Occupation | Diplomat and civil servant |
Early lifeEdit
He was born Mark Freiberg in Melbourne, Australia in 1960 to Martin and Freda Freiberg.[2] He was educated at Mount Scopus Memorial College, a Jewish day school in Melbourne.[3] He received his bachelor's degree in political science and history at Melbourne University, and master's degrees in political science from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and in management from Boston University.[4]
In his youth, Freiberg was a prominent member of the Socialist Zionist youth movement Ichud Habonim and was active in the Melbourne University Jewish Students Society.[5] In 1982, he emigrated to Israel and worked at kibbutz Tel Katzir.[5] In Israel, he Hebraicized his surname from Freiberg to Regev.[5] He served as a combat soldier in the Nahal Brigade of the Israel Defense Forces.[6]
CareerEdit
Regev began his career as a lecturer on international relations and strategy at the Israel Defense Forces Staff College.[4] He joined Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1990, serving as deputy chief of mission at the Consulate General in Hong Kong, and spokesman at the Israeli Embassy in Beijing.[7] He also served as spokesman at the Embassy in Washington, D.C.. Regev was the spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Jerusalem from 2004 to 2007.
Regev has both received prominence and criticism in international media when he presented the Israeli position in numerous interviews to English language TV[8] and radio channels[9] during the 2006 Lebanon War, the 2008–09 Gaza War, the 2012 Operation Pillar of Defense, and the 2014 Israel–Gaza conflict and Operation Brother's Keeper.
In August 2015, Regev was confirmed as Israel's ambassador to the United Kingdom.[10] He replaced Daniel Taub in London.[10] He was replaced as spokesman by David Keyes.[11]
As ambassador, Regev was involved in interfaith activities. He hosted an iftar dinner at his residence for members of Britain’s Muslim leadership.[6] After a four year term as ambassador, Regev was succeeded by Tzipi Hotovely.[12]
In 2020, Regev returned to the Prime Minister's Office as the Prime Minister's Senior Advisor for Foreign Affairs and International Communications .[13] He succeeded Evan Cohen in the position.[12]
Personal lifeEdit
He is married to Vered Regev and they have three children.[14][5]
ReferencesEdit
- ^ "Gilboa and the Israeli paradox". The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com. Retrieved 2021-09-23.
- ^ "Aussie Regev becomes Israel's man in the UK - The Australian Jewish News". 7 April 2016.
- ^ The (Aussie) voice of Israel - In Depth, The Age
- ^ a b "mfa.gov".
- ^ a b c d Mark Regev News, UPI
- ^ a b "Israel's man in London: Ambassador Mark Regev will go anywhere - Israel News - Jerusalem Post". www.jpost.com. Retrieved 2019-07-04.
- ^ Mark Regev, Spokesman, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Israel, 15 November 2004
- ^ Mark Regev on Israel, conflict and antisemitism, archived from the original on 2021-12-21, retrieved 2021-09-23
- ^ "Political Thinking with Nick Robinson - The Mark Regev One - BBC Sounds". www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 2021-09-23.
- ^ a b staff, T. O. I. "PM's spokesman confirmed as new envoy to UK". www.timesofisrael.com. Retrieved 2019-07-04.
- ^ "Netanyahu appoints provocative activist as spokesperson". Ynetnews. 2016-03-18. Retrieved 2019-10-11.
- ^ a b Ahren, Raphael. "After four years in the UK, Mark Regev returns to Netanyahu's office". www.timesofisrael.com. Retrieved 2020-08-12.
- ^ Ahren, Raphael. "After four years in the UK, Mark Regev returns to Netanyahu's office". www.timesofisrael.com. Retrieved 2020-08-12.
- ^ Ambassador Regev Arrives in the UK, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Israel, 5 April 2016
External linksEdit
| Wikimedia Commons has media related to Mark Regev. |
- "Mark Regev". Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 15 November 2004.
- Jason Koutsoukis (26 January 2008). "The (Aussie) voice of Israel". The Age.
- Transcript of a radio interview with Regev WNYC 6 April 2002
- Regev answers questions about Israeli policy USA Today 3 May 2002
- Transcript of a radio interview with Regev ABC 22 December 2005
- Mark Regev: The one-man Israeli defence force who is set to become ambassador to Britain Independent 14 August 2015