LONDON(RAHNUMA): Mahmoud Abbas, the president of the Palestinian Authority, awarded the “Jerusalem Star Medal,” a rank within the “Order of Jerusalem” decorations, to Nicolas Kassianides, the outgoing French consul general in Jerusalem.
The award was presented in recognition of his role in strengthening Palestinian-French ties and his efforts to support the Palestinian people and their pursuit of freedom and independence, according to the Palestine News Agency.
The “Star of Jerusalem” is awarded by the PA to Palestinian and foreign officials, members of parliament and party representatives, according to a 2018 presidential decree.
Kassianides concluded his diplomatic term with a visit to the presidential headquarters in the administrative city of Ramallah on Thursday for the award ceremony, attended by the president’s diplomatic affairs adviser, Majdi Al-Khalidi.
France has driven diplomatic efforts with Saudi Arabia to secure the recognition of 10 countries of Palestinian statehood at the UN General Assembly last September, including the UK, Canada and Australia.
Paris has remained adamant in condemning Israeli policies in the occupied West Bank, including attacks by extremist settlers against Palestinians and the expansion of settlements. It has also denounced Israeli military operations in the Gaza Strip and condemned the Hamas attack on Oct. 7, 2023.
