Paris Mayor Revokes Honor from Abbas for Controversial Holocaust Remarks
Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo has revoked Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas of the Grand Vermeil medal, the highest honor of the French capital, after he made remarks about the Holocaust that echoed anti-Semitic tropes. Abbas had justified the extermination of Jews in World War II, claiming it was due to their "social role" and not their religion. Hidalgo stated that his comments were contrary to universal values and historical truth, and therefore he could no longer hold the distinction. The European Union and France's consulate in Jerusalem also condemned Abbas' remarks as false and unacceptable.