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A diplomat is a person who can tell you to go to hell in such a techful way that you

ask for directions. If that famous aphorism is true, my guest on this week's political

thinking is the ultimate diplomat. Mark Reggeve has for many years and for many people

been the voice of Israel. Silver tongueed but unyielding. First as spokesman for his country

on the international media, then as ambassador to the UK.

Reggeve has just returned home to work alongside a prime minister whose plans to declare sovereignty

or to annex large parts of the West Bank have been condemned this week by Boris Johnson

as a violation of international law and a gift to those who want to perpetuate. He says

the old story is about Israel. It has been quite a journey for the young Zionist who left

his native Australia to see socialism being built in its rally. Mark Reggeve, welcome

to political thinking. Thank you for having me. Do I talk to you now in quarantine?

Yes indeed. In Israel, everyone who arrives internationally has to go two weeks into self

isolation and I haven't left my flat since arriving in Israel and I can tell you even

on one morning I got an eye on the daughter check that I was in fact keeping my quarantine

we take these things very seriously in Israel. Now can you tell us what you've gone back

to Jerusalem to do with read that you're going to work alongside the prime minister Benjamin

Netanyahu but we don't yet know to do what? To be fair nothing is finalized until it's

finalized and so far there's been no official announcement and so I'm afraid that until

there is an official announcement I have to be rather vague about what I'll be doing.

But you will remain a public face of public voice for Israel.

I will definitely remain in the government service. Now you were in that government service

...