André Azoulay is decorated by the President of Israel
André Azoulay, advisor to the King of Morocco, Mohamed VI, has been awarded the prestigious Presidential Medal of Honour by Israeli President Isaac Herzog during a ceremony in Israel. Herzog recognised Azoulay's "unique contribution to the State of Israel, to the Jewish people and to humanity".
The royal advisor was accompanied at the ceremony by members of his family, as well as by Mustapha El Bakkouri and Tarik Ottmani, mayors of Tetouan and Essaouira, respectively. Also present at the event was the head of the Moroccan liaison office in Tel Aviv, Abderrahim Bayoud, and other relevant political, economic and cultural figures.
The list of winners was announced on 2 July by the office of Israel's head of state, emphasising Azoulay's 'lifelong' commitment to 'advancing peace between Israelis and Palestinians'.
🇲🇦🇮🇱🏅| André Azoulay, conseiller de SM le Roi Mohamed VI, a reçu la médaille d’honneur présidentielle, lors d’une grande cérémonie organisée au palais présidentiel.
— Moroccan History 🇲🇦۞ (@MoroccanSories) September 8, 2023
Il exprime sa joie d'avoir reçu cette médaille d'honneur. pic.twitter.com/CIc7IG7TY2
The royal advisor, who is also president of the Anna Lindh Euro-Mediterranean Foundation for Dialogue between Cultures (Alexandria, Egypt) and co-chair of the Three Cultures Foundation of the Mediterranean (Seville, Spain), is known for his support for tolerance, peace and dialogue, promoting rapprochement and coexistence between cultures, civilisations and religions.
In this sense, Azolay has advocated understanding between peoples, especially between Israelis and Palestinians, defending a two-state solution in which sovereignty, dignity and justice are present on both sides.
Nuestro presidente y consejero de SM el Rey de Marruecos, André Azoulay, fue condecorado ayer en Jerusalén por el presidente israelí @Isaac_Herzog con la Medalla Presidencial de Honor a la Promoción de la Paz y Diálogo Interreligioso. 🇲🇦🇮🇱 https://t.co/HfRWae4V9W 📺 pic.twitter.com/cGgLZK8tat
— Fundación Tres Culturas del Mediterráneo (@FunTresCulturas) September 7, 2023
Also, as a Moroccan of Jewish descent, he has emerged as a strong advocate for the preservation and protection of Jewish culture, heritage and legacy in the Kingdom. Azoulay has encouraged Moroccan Jews, both inside and outside Morocco, to maintain their connection to their roots and take pride in their unique cultural identity.
Likewise, Azoulay has played a key role in strengthening ties between Morocco and Israel since the two countries resumed relations in December 2020 under the auspices of the United States. Rabat then joined other Arab countries that normalised relations with Israel under the Abraham Accords and, like others such as the United Arab Emirates, began cooperating with Israel in different sectors, which has brought numerous benefits to both nations.
On the occasion of the ceremony in Israel, Azoulay expressed her pride in serving both King Mohammed VI and her late father, King Hassan II. "In Morocco, the land of Islam, I am a proud Jew and I live my Judaism to the fullest," the royal adviser told the Moroccan news agency MAP. "This recognition is a source of great hope and immense pride for my country, Morocco, and for Moroccan civilisation, which continues to embody the values of peace and coexistence," he added.
Azoulay also stressed that this recognition extends to all Moroccans regardless of their religious background, underlining the Kingdom's commitment to peace and coexistence under the leadership of Mohammed VI.
הענקנו הערב בהתרגשות גדולה את עיטור הנשיא לרגל שנת ה-75 למדינת ישראל. כלות וחתני העיטור הם שיקוף של אור גנוז; נבחרת שמורכבת מנשים וגברים, משלל האמונות ואורחות החיים בישראל, אנשי דעת, חזון ומעש, מנהיגים משלל מרחבי פעולה, שהטביעו חותם של ממש על החברה והעם שלנו, ועל האנושות כולה. pic.twitter.com/a57qngq6Bg
— יצחק הרצוג Isaac Herzog (@Isaac_Herzog) September 6, 2023
Herzog, for his part, described the royal adviser as "a man of peace and dialogue". The Israeli Presidential Medal is Israel's highest civilian decoration. In the past it has been awarded to prominent political figures such as Henry Kissinger, Bill Clinton, Barack Obama, Joe Biden and Angela Merkel.
