Mark Regev ‘excited’ as he assumes role as Israeli ambassador to UK
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!”
It’s now official. Presented my credentials @foreignoffice as Israel’s UK Ambassador. Excited to be here. pic.twitter.com/5zNZRb2O6p
— Mark Regev (@AmbMarkRegev) April 4, 2016
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.
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.
