Mark Regev
{{Short description|Israeli diplomat and civil servant}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2024}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific-prefix =
| name = Mark Regev
| native_name = {{No bold|{{Script/Hebrew|מארק רגב}}}}
| native_name_lang = he
| honorific-suffix =
| image = Mark Regev.jpg
| image_size =
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| order =
| office = Ambassador of Israel to the United Kingdom
| term_start = April 2016
| term_end = 2020
| president = Reuven Rivlin
| primeminister = Benjamin Netanyahu
| predecessor = Daniel Taub
| successor =
| birth_name = Mark Freiberg
| birth_date = {{birth year and age|1960}}
| birth_place = Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| death_date =
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| citizenship = Israel
| nationality =
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| spouse = Vered Regev
| children = 3
| parents =
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| residence =
| education = Mount Scopus Memorial College
| alma_mater = Melbourne University
Hebrew University of Jerusalem
Boston University
| occupation = Diplomat and civil servant
| religion =
| awards =
| succeeded = Tzipi Hotovely
}}
Mark Regev ({{langx|he|מארק רגב}}; born 1960) is an Australian-Israeli diplomat, government advisor and civil servant.{{Cite web |title=Israel Senior Advisor Talks Israel Hamas War, Diplomacy - Bloomberg |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/audio/2023-10-17/israel-senior-advisor-talks-israel-hamas-war-diplomacy |access-date=22 October 2023 |website=www.bloomberg.com |language=EN}} Between June 2020 and April 2021, he served as the Prime Minister's Senior Advisor for Foreign Affairs and International Communications. From 2016 to 2020 Regev was Ambassador of Israel to the United Kingdom. Previously, he was the International Spokesperson for the Prime Minister's Office (2007 to 2016).
Early life
Regev was born Mark Freiberg in Melbourne, where he was raised, in Victoria, Australia, in 1960 to Martin and Freda Freiberg, two German Jews.{{cite web|url=https://www.jewishnews.net.au/aussie-regev-becomes-israels-man-uk/53201|title=Aussie Regev becomes Israel's man in the UK - The Australian Jewish News|date=7 April 2016}} {{Cite web |last=Bourke |first=Latika |date=21 July 2018 |title=The Aussie boy who's at home spruiking for Israel |url=https://www.smh.com.au/world/middle-east/the-aussie-boy-who-s-at-home-spruiking-for-israel-20180704-p4zpb6.html |access-date=7 June 2024 |website=The Sydney Morning Herald |language=en}} He was educated at Mount Scopus Memorial College, a Jewish day school in Melbourne.[http://www.theage.com.au/news/in-depth/bpeopleb-the-aussie-voice-of-israels-prime-minister/2008/01/25/1201157667817.html The (Aussie) voice of Israel - In Depth], The Age He received his bachelor's degree in political science and history at the University of Melbourne, and master's degrees in political science from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and in management from Boston University.{{cite web|url=http://www.mfa.gov.il/mfa/abouttheministry/pages/mark%20regev.aspx|title=mfa.gov}}{{bsn|date=October 2023}}
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.[http://www.upi.com/topic/Mark_Regev/ Mark Regev News], UPI 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 (IDF).{{Cite web|url=https://www.jpost.com/Jerusalem-Report/Israels-man-in-London-Ambassador-Mark-Regev-will-go-anywhere-506464|title=Israel's man in London: Ambassador Mark Regev will go anywhere - Israel News - Jerusalem Post|website=www.jpost.com|access-date=4 July 2019}}
Career
File:Mark Regev at an International Holocaust Remembrance Day Event.jpg event at the Foreign & Commonwealth Office in London on 23 January 2019.]]
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.[http://www.mfa.gov.il/mfa/abouttheministry/pages/mark%20regev.aspx Mark Regev, Spokesman], Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Israel, 15 November 2004{{bsn|date=October 2023}} In 2015 Regev was appointed to replace Daniel Taub as Israel's ambassador to the UK; he officially assumed his position on 4 April 2016.{{cite news| url=https://www.thejc.com/news/israel/mark-regev-starts-job-as-israels-uk-ambassador-bb36ix4p |title=Mark Regev starts job as Israel’s UK ambassador |date=4 April 2016 |newspaper=The Jewish Chronicle}}
As ambassador, Regev was involved in interfaith activities. He hosted an iftar dinner at his residence for members of Britain's Muslim leadership.{{Better source needed|date=July 2024}} He served as ambassador for four years before returning to Israel in August 2020 to become prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Senior Advisor for Foreign Affairs and International Communications, replacing Evan Cohen.{{cite news |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/after-four-years-in-the-uk-mark-regev-returns-to-netanyahus-office/ |title=After four years in the UK, Mark Regev returns to Netanyahu’s office |newspaper=The Times of Israel |date=12 August 2020 |first=Raphael |last=Ahren}} Regev was succeeded by Tzipi Hotovely.{{cite news |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/settlements-minister-confirms-shell-be-israels-new-ambassador-to-the-uk/ |title=Settlements minister confirms she’ll be Israel’s new ambassador to the UK |newspaper=The Times of Israel |date=11 June 2020 |first=Raphael |last=Ahren}}
In 2022 Regev was appointed to be the chair of the Abba Eban Institute for Diplomacy and Foreign Relations at Reichman University.{{Cite web |title=Mark Regev to Head Abba Eban Institute of Diplomacy at Reichman University |website=The Jewish Press |url=https://www.jewishpress.com/news/israel/mark-regev-to-head-abba-eban-institute-of-diplomacy-at-reichman-university/2022/05/23/ |date=23 May 2022 |first=Hana Levi |last=Julian}}
Regev has received both prominence and criticism in international media when he has presented the Israeli position in interviews to English language TV{{Citation|title=Mark Regev on Israel, conflict and antisemitism|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M5sBOCHVyKw |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/M5sBOCHVyKw |archive-date=21 December 2021 |url-status=live|language=en|access-date=23 September 2021}}{{cbignore}} and radio channels{{Cite web|title=Political Thinking with Nick Robinson - The Mark Regev One - BBC Sounds|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p08js14h|access-date=23 September 2021|website=www.bbc.co.uk|language=en-GB}} during the 2006 Lebanon War, the 2008–09 Gaza War, the 2012 Operation Pillar of Defense, the 2014 Israel–Gaza conflict and Operation Brother's Keeper, and the 2021 Operation Guardian of the Walls. In 2020, he described the two-state solution as an "illusion" that could never be implemented successfully.{{cite news|newspaper=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-53277708|title=Israel's ex-UK ambassador Mark Regev warns of 'two-state illusion'|date=3 July 2020}}
During the Gaza war, Regev made several controversial remarks about the conflict, including denying Israeli responsibility for the flour massacre and suggesting collective punishment as a means of forcing the release of Israeli hostages. In one interview on MSNBC, host Medhi Hasan accused Regev and other Israeli government figures of spreading disinformation about civilian casualties in Gaza.{{cite news|url=https://www.foxnews.com/media/tempers-flare-msnbc-mehdi-hasan-argues-israeli-official-your-government-killed-children|newspaper=Fox News|date=17 November 2023|title=Tempers flare on MSNBC as Mehdi Hasan argues with Israeli official: Your government ‘killed children’|first=Jeffrey|last=Clark}} He appeared on British radio station LBC on 13 January 2024 to call genocide allegations against Israel "preposterous."{{Citation |title=Netanyahu's adviser calls genocide allegations 'preposterous' {{!}} LBC |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y9XQ_pZlKlQ |access-date=17 January 2024 |language=en}} In the same interview, he described South Africa's genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice as "very sad, because they basically decided to become Hamas' lawyer."
Regev is married to Vered Regev and they have three children.[http://embassies.gov.il/london/NewsAndEvents/Pages/Ambassador-Regev-Arrives-in-UK.aspx Ambassador Regev Arrives in the UK], Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Israel, 5 April 2016{{bsn|date=October 2023}}
=Genocide case=
Amid allegations that Israel was committing genocide in Gaza, Aboriginal activist Robbie Thorpe brought a private prosecution against Regev in 2024. Thorpe accused Regev of "advocating genocide", a crime included in section 80.2D of the Australian Criminal Code.{{cite news |last=Fink |first=Rachel |date=22 October 2024 |title=Australian-Israeli Former Diplomat Mark Regev Under Trial for Genocide Advocacy |url=https://www.haaretz.com/world-news/2024-10-22/ty-article/.premium/australian-israeli-former-diplomat-mark-regev-under-trial-for-genocide-advocacy/00000192-b4e6-d006-a5b3-feee3fa30000 |work=Haaretz}} Regev was served in Israel with a Hebrew copy of the charge sheet.{{cite web|url=https://www.sydneycriminallawyers.com.au/blog/prosecuting-the-king-the-attorney-general-and-a-netanyahu-advisor-over-genocide-a-yarn-with-uncle-robbie-thorpe/|title=Prosecuting the King, the Attorney General and a Netanyahu Advisor Over Genocide: A Yarn with Uncle Robbie Thorpe|first=Paul|last=Gregoire|date=7 November 2024|website=Sydney Criminal Lawyers}} The charge was based on remarks Regev made during a radio interview on 10 October 2023 in which he advocated for Israel to cut off the supply of essentials such as food, water and electricity to Gaza. Lawyers for the Israeli government contacted the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions and formally requested the dismissal of the case.{{cite news |date=21 October 2024 |title=Aboriginal activist files genocide case against ex-Israel envoy to UK in Australia court |url=https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20241021-aboriginal-activist-files-genocide-case-against-ex-israel-envoy-to-uk-in-australia-court/ |work=Middle East Monitor}} On 10 December the DPP's office formally took over the case and withdrew the charges against Regev, a decision which Thorpe said he would appeal.{{cite web |url=https://www.northweststar.com.au/story/8842622/road-blocked-as-israeli-advisers-charges-withdrawn/ |title=Road blocked as Israeli adviser's charges withdrawn |website=The North West Star |date=10 December 2024 |first=Tara |last=Cosoleto}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category}}
- {{cite web|title=Mark Regev|url=http://www.mfa.gov.il/mfa/abouttheministry/pages/mark%20regev.aspx|publisher=Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs|date=15 November 2004}}
- {{cite news|author1=Jason Koutsoukis|title=The (Aussie) voice of Israel|url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/in-depth/bpeopleb-the-aussie-voice-of-israels-prime-minister/2008/01/25/1201157667817.html?page=fullpage#contentSwap1|work=The Age|date=26 January 2008}}
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20061001152523/http://www.onthemedia.org/transcripts/transcripts_040602_israel.html Transcript of a radio interview with Regev] WNYC 6 April 2002
- [https://www.usatoday.com/community/chat/2002-05-03-regev.htm Regev answers questions about Israeli policy] USA Today 3 May 2002
- [http://www.abc.net.au/pm/content/2005/s1536769.htm Transcript of a radio interview with Regev] ABC 22 December 2005
- [https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/mark-regev-the-oneman-israeli-defence-force-who-is-set-to-become-ambassador-to-britain-10456496.html Mark Regev: The one-man Israeli defence force who is set to become ambassador to Britain] Independent 14 August 2015
- [https://www.smh.com.au/world/middle-east/the-aussie-boy-who-s-at-home-spruiking-for-israel-20180704-p4zpb6.html The Aussie boy who's at home spruiking for Israel] Sydney Morning Herald 22 July 2018
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Category:Date of birth missing (living people)
Category:Ambassadors of Israel to the United Kingdom
Category:Australian emigrants to Israel
Category:Boston University School of Management alumni
Category:Hebrew University of Jerusalem Faculty of Social Sciences alumni
Category:Israeli civil servants
Category:Israeli people of Australian-Jewish descent
Category:People from Melbourne