Israeli Ambassador Ron Prosor made a whistle-stop tour of three northern cities this week as part of an "open forum" strategy adopted by the embassy in London.
He encountered a minor protest from around 20 supporters of the Action Palestine group on Manchester University's campus on Tuesday afternoon, which police say passed off peacefully. Mr Prosor addressed 80 students and staff who study or teach the Middle East, having been invited by the university's vice-chancellor, Dame Nancy Rothwell.
Later addressing 300 members of Manchester's Jewish community, he reported that the university session had been conducted in a positive atmosphere. He had wanted to "engage with students because that's our grassroots and our next generation". He also urged communal members to strengthen their grassroots campaigning for Israel.
"There are boycotts, demonisation and delegitimising the state of Israel and the Jewish people as well - and people don't stand up against it. Because they don't stand up the line moves," he said, urging: "Go out there, make the right points. You can make a difference."
Mr Prosor also attracted a crowd of 350 Leeds community members for a meeting at Etz Chaim Synagogue on Monday evening where he took audience questions.
In Manchester, he met city council leader Sir Richard Leese to discuss commercial opportunities with Israel . Another engagement saw him address more than 100 business leaders at the local Freemasons' Hall, arranged by Manchester's British-Israel Chamber of Commerce. Its Leeds counterpart attracted a similar number to a business breakfast on Tuesday.
An embassy spokesperson described the visit as part of "a new concept to increase dialogue and real interaction with the ambassador. In the next six weeks he will speak on five campuses."