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The award is being bestowed upon those "who have made an outstanding contribution to the state of Israel or to humanity, through their talents, services, or in any other form," a statement from the Israeli Presidency said.
Mehta,
75, will be sharing the honours with the likes of former US Secretary
of State Henry Kissinger, Judith Feld Carr, a Canadian-Jewish musician
and human rights activist who helped smuggle thousands of Jews out of
Syria, the Rashi Foundation, a non-governmental organisation, Chabad
Rabbi Adin Even Yisrael and attorney Uri Slonim.
The
Indian conductor, who is the music director of the Israel Philharmonic
Orchestra (IPO), will be awarded the honour "for his unique contribution
to the world of Israeli music," the statement said.
"I'm
old enough to know that people are no less important than ideas,"
Israel's Nobel laureate President, Shimon Peres, said at a ceremony in
honour of the recipients.
"The
world has learned to say 'thank you', and it's time that we also thank
people of stature, people who set an example for the younger generation,
so as to send a message that any person can be as great as his greatest
action or thought," Peres added.
The
Israeli president and the members of the advisory council, chaired by
former supreme court president Meir Shamgar and former president Yitzhak
Navon, on Thursday announced the names of the recipients of the first
Presidential Awards of Distinction.
"You
are shining example for us all. The honour is ours that we give you the
Presidential Award of Distinction today," the octagenarian Israeli
President emphasised.
The
medallions for the award were designed by Bezalel Academy of arts and
Design graduate, Yossi Matityahu, and feature the North Star,
symbolising the right path, and a menorah, symbolising the renewal of
the state of Israel and the strong and continuous link between past and
present.
In
a rare honour, Peres last year in July invited Mehta to perform at the
Beit HaNassi (President's official residence) to celebrate 50 years of
his association with the IPO.
Commending
his "indispensable contribution" to the state of Israel, the elderly
statesman then said that under Mehta's baton, "music became more
effective than diplomacy".
The
octogenarian Israeli leader said that he shares with the Indian
conductor a rare optimism, namely preferring an imperfect peace rather
than a perfect war.
"I
commend you on your indispensable contribution to the State of Israel,
its people, its search for peace, and its love for music," he said.
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