Dr. George Wise, former president of Tel Aviv University, accepted Mexico’s highest award for a foreign citizen, the Aztec Eagle, bestowed upon him by President Luis Echeverria at ceremonies at the Presidential residence at Los Pinos several days ago. Dr. Wise was cited for his important social, cultural and intellectual connections with Mexico since 1937.
The ceremonies were attended by Mexican Foreign Minister Emilio Rabasa, who praised Wise as an important dynamic link between Mexico and Israel; by the Israeli Ambassador Hanan Aynor; and leading Mexican academicians and political figures.
Only last week, Tel Aviv University students demanded that Echeverria return the honorary doctorate awarded him by the university on his recent visit to Israel because of Mexico’s support for the Arab-inspired resolution equating Zionism with racism adopted by the UN General Assembly’s Third Committee. Prof. Shlomo Simonson, Rector of Tel Aviv University, cabled Echeverria at the same time expressing shock over the Mexican vote and asking for an explanation in view of Echeverria’s professions of friendship for Israel.
Histadrut Secretary General Yeruham Meshel, who was attending a conference of the Free Trade Unions Confederation here at the time the award was presented to Dr. Wise, denounced the anti-Zionist resolution at a Mexico City press conference as a pretext for defaming Israel and the Jewish people.
JTA has documented Jewish history in real-time for over a century. Keep our journalism strong by joining us in supporting independent, award-winning reporting.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
