Israeli President Isaac Herzog granted the Presidential Medal of Honor to André Azoulay, on Sunday, in recognition of his historic commitment to Israeli-Palestinian peace. The Presidential Medal goes to individuals who have “made an extraordinary contribution to the State of Israel, the Jewish people, and humanity,” as reported by Israeli media I24.
Azoulay’s ancestry, conduct, and multi-faceted professional accolades–in other words, his overall “Moroccanness”– have firmly established his identity as a force to be reckoned with.
According to an official announcement thanking Azoulay, the statement “…made an extraordinary contribution to the Jewish world, Moroccan Jewry, and the State of Israel in cultivating and preserving relations with Morocco over the years, preserving along the way Jewish heritage in Morocco, and providing support and advice to Israeli leaders in their quest for peace in the Middle East,” reported by the same source.
The most significant and iconic of his accomplishments occurred in 1973, when he founded the “Identity and Dialogue”, the first Jewish group to highlight the need to develop the two-state solution (Israel and Palestine).
The objectives of enabling Moroccan Jews to reconcile with their own history–along with reclaiming their legacy and culture on spiritual, philosophical, and moral levels—have symbolized the challenges to which Azoulay has aspired.
The 82-year-old leader served late King Hassan II and is still serving King Mohammed VI in his role as President of the Al-Quds Committee.