Peres: Israel Has Great Respect for Egyptian President
First reported January 31, 2011 · Updated October 28, 2026
JERUSALEM, January 31, 2011. Israeli President Shimon Peres publicly defended the contribution of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak to regional peace during a ceremony welcoming foreign ambassadors, including Costa Rica’s Rodrigo Carreras. The remarks came as mass demonstrations challenged Mubarak’s three-decade rule and raised questions about the future of Egypt’s relationship with Israel.
Peres said Israel maintained great respect for Mubarak because of his role in preserving peace between the two countries. His comments did not amount to an endorsement of every decision made by the Egyptian government. Rather, Peres presented the 1979 Egypt-Israel peace treaty as a major regional achievement whose survival mattered even amid demands for political change.
The contrast was striking. Demonstrators in Cairo and other Egyptian cities were pressing for the removal of a long-serving president. Across the border, Israeli leaders were worried about the possibility that political upheaval could weaken a treaty that had helped prevent another war between the neighboring countries.
Costa Rica’s ambassador returns to Israel
The diplomatic ceremony also marked an important moment in Costa Rica’s bilateral relationship with Israel. Rodrigo Carreras Jiménez was taking up an ambassadorial assignment in a country where he had already served decades earlier. His father, Benjamín Núñez, had also represented Costa Rica in Israel, making the relationship a family connection as well as a diplomatic posting.
Carreras joined the ceremony as Costa Rica’s government under President Laura Chinchilla sought to strengthen relations with Israel. Costa Rica and Israel had maintained a long diplomatic relationship, although the countries had disagreed over Costa Rica’s earlier decision to move its embassy from Jerusalem to the Tel Aviv area in 2006.
The appointment represented continuity in personnel during a period of changing political priorities. A Costa Rican government record confirms that Carreras had been appointed ambassador to Israel in August 2010. Costa Rica’s Foreign Ministry later recorded his presence at a March 2012 meeting between Peres and Foreign Minister Enrique Castillo.
Why the Egyptian protests mattered to Israel
Egypt and Israel signed their peace treaty on March 26, 1979, after the Camp David negotiations. The agreement ended the state of war between them and provided for Israel’s withdrawal from the Sinai Peninsula. The U.S. State Department’s historical record describes the treaty as a central achievement in the region’s peace process.
For Israel, Mubarak had been an established partner in sustaining the treaty after succeeding Anwar Sadat in 1981. For Egyptian protesters, however, his government’s suppression of political opposition was among the reasons for demanding change. The two perspectives help explain why Peres’s expression of respect attracted international attention.
Contemporary Spanish public broadcaster RTVE reported the January 31 remarks and their place in Israel’s response to the protests. The ceremony also involved ambassadors from several other countries, but Carreras’s presence gave the story a direct Costa Rican dimension.
What happened next
Mubarak resigned on February 11, 2011, after weeks of demonstrations. The United Kingdom’s government announced the resignation that day, emphasizing the need for a transition toward civilian, democratic government. Costa Rica’s diplomatic engagement with Israel continued, including the official 2012 meeting documented by its Foreign Ministry.
Questions and answers
Who was Shimon Peres discussing? Hosni Mubarak, Egypt’s president at the time of the January 2011 protests.
What was Costa Rica’s connection? Rodrigo Carreras attended the ambassadorial credentials ceremony as Costa Rica’s representative to Israel.
When did Mubarak leave office? February 11, 2011.