In an interview with Arutz 7, former Israeli ambassador to Egypt between 1997 and 2001, Zvi Mazel, wished Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak a speedy recovery from his gall bladder surgery this week. Mazel said that Mubarak was “a positive force for the Middle East,” and that he continued to properly promote the peace treaty between Israel and Egypt.

Mubarak's next term is up in 2011, and many in Egypt believe that he will retire from politics, appointing his son Gamal to take his place. Under a Gamal Mubarak administration, Mazel said, Egypt was likely to continue upholding the Camp David accords.