Mark Regev
Mark Regev (; 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. 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. Early life. He was born Mark Freiberg in  Melbourne, Australia in 1960 to Martin and Freda Freiberg. He was educated at Mount Scopus Memorial College, a Jewish day school in Melbourne. 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. 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. In 1982, he emigrated to Israel and worked at kibbutz Tel Katzir. In Israel, he Hebraicized his surname  from Freiberg to Regev. He served as a combat soldier in the Nahal Brigade of the Israel Defense Forces. Career. Regev began his career as a lecturer on international relations and strategy at the Israel Defense Forces Staff College. 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. 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 and radio channels 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. He replaced Daniel Taub in London. He was replaced as spokesman by David Keyes. As ambassador, Regev was involved in interfaith activities. He hosted an iftar dinner at his residence for members of Britain’s Muslim leadership . After a four year term as ambassador, Regev was succeeded by Tzipi Hotovely. In 2020, Regev returned to the Prime Minister's Office as the Prime Minister's Senior Advisor for Foreign Affairs and International Communications . He succeeded Evan Cohen in the position. Personal life. He is married to Vered Regev and they have three children.