Mark Regev

Mark Regev (Hebrew: מארק רגב‎, /ˈrɛɡəv/) (born 1960) is an Israeli diplomat and civil servant, and the Ambassador of Israel to the United Kingdom since April 2016. Prior to that, he was the chief spokesman for the Prime Minister of Israel, a position he held from 2007 to 2015. Originally from Australia, he moved to Israel in 1982.

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 name from Freiberg to Regev. He served as a combat soldier in the Nahal Brigade of the Israel Defense Forces.

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 is involved in interfaith activities. He hosted an iftar dinner at his residence for members of Britain’s Muslim leadership.

He is married to Vered Regev and they have three children.