Hyderabad : Palestine will confer ‘Star of Jerusalem’, the highest civilian award, on Syed Vicaruddin, chairman of Indo-Arab League, in recognition of his support for their cause.
Palestinian President Mahmood Abbas has sent a high-level delegation led by his special advisor and Palestine’s Supreme Judge Mahmoud Sidqi Al-Habash to India for doing the honours.
Dr. Mahmoud Sidqi Al Habash, Supreme Judge and Special Advisor to President of Palestine Mahmood Abbas addressing a Press Conference of Indo-Arab League Hyderabad on Thursday. Dr. Habash is in Hyderabad to represent President Mahmood Abbas in felicitating Syed Vicaruddin, Chairman – Indo-Arab League Hyderabad
Al-Habash told reporters here on Thursday that Vicaruddin was being honoured for “his continued, principled support for the Palestinian struggle for statehood for last four decades”.
He said that Palestine received support from India, through Indo-Arab League, Hyderabad.
The award will be presented here on Saturday.
Vicaruddin, who is also the chief editor of Urdu daily “Rahnuma-e-Deccan”, played a key role in mobilising India’s support for the Palestinian cause.
Established in 1967 to promote relations between India and Arab countries, the League organised several meetings in the past in support of Palestine. Prime Ministers Indira Gandhi, V.P. Singh, I.K. Gujral and Atal Behari Vajpayee addressed its meetings.
Palestinian president Yasser Arafat, then the Palestinian Liberation Organisation, had also visited Hyderabad at the invitation of the League in 1997.
Speaking on the current situation in Palestine, Abbas’ advisor said the Palestinians were fighting for their just cause.
“Palestinians are fighting to reclaim their homeland. We will one day stop living as refugees on our own soil. Sooner or later we will achieve our goal of liberating our homeland and establishing our state,” he said.
Al-Habash was accompanied by Palestine’s Ambassador to India Adnan Abu Alhaijaa.