Mark Regev, former foreign media spokesman of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, officially began his tenure as Israel’s new Ambassador to Britain as he presented his credentials to the Foreign Office.

He succeeds Daniel Taub, who spent four years in the role.

The 55-year-old Regev said via social media, “It’s now official. Excited to be here.”

Originally from Australia, Regev moved to Israel in 1982 and became a lecturer in international relations and strategy at the IDF Staff College. He joined Israel’s fomeign Ministry in 1990 and served as the deputy chief of mission at the consulate in Hong Kong and as spokesman at the embassies in Washington DC and Beijing.

Regev served as the spokesman for Israel’s foreign ministry between 2004 and 2007, before being appointed as the Prime Minister’s foreign media spokesperson, a role in which he gained international prominence as a regular and widely respected voice across international media outlets.

Regev became one of Israel’s most erudite and robust public advocates at some of the country’s most difficult recent moments, including conflicts with Hamas in the Gaza Strip in 2008, 2012 and 2014.

Jonathan Arkush, President of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, the representative group of British Jews, welcomed the 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.”

Britain’s Zionist Federation chairman Paul Charney said 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!”

by Henri Stein