The son of the late Israeli ambassador, Shlomo Argov, dedicated a music room in his memory at the refurbished Israeli Embassy on Monday.

Mr Argov was shot in the head at point-blank range as he left a dinner at the Dorchester Hotel in London's Mayfair in June, 1982, leaving him paralysed except for some movement in his head.

After emergency brain surgery, he spent three months in hospital in Britain before being transferred to Jerusalem's Hadassah Hospital, where he remained until his death in 2003.

"It was a very emotional moment," said American-based Gidon Argov. "Some film was shown of my father speaking and from the evening when he was attacked. It was not easy to be transported back to 1982."

He added that Shlomo Argov had a great love of music. "He played the piano as a child and he introduced me to classical music, including playing the cello. He really enjoyed it, so this room is very appropriate."

Also at the ceremony was the current ambassador, Ron Prosor, who said Shlomo Argov "set the benchmark of what it is to be an Israeli ambassador abroad.

"To follow in his footsteps is an honour, a privilege and a responsibility."