DID YOUR DIAMOND PAY FOR THIS?
"Israel's diamond industry funds Israel's war machine with US $1billion ($1,000,000,000) yearly"
- Shir Hever, Israeli Economist
Why Israel?
Israel is one of the world’s leading producers of cut & polished diamonds. It imports rough diamonds, doubles their value by cutting & polishing, and exports them globally via hubs in London, Antwerp, HK, NY & Mumbai. In 2011 Israel’s net export of diamonds was worth $10 billion (30% of Israel’s manufacturing export, Israel’s #1 industry). 40-50% of diamonds purchased in the US in dollar terms are from Israel.
Most people don’t realise that diamonds sold in jewellers worldwide are bankrolling Israel’s war machine: “Overall the Israeli diamond industry contributes about $1 billion annually to the Israeli military and security industries … every time somebody buys a diamond that was exported from Israel some of that money ends up in the Israeli military” evidence given by Israeli economist Shir Hever (Russell Tribunal Nov 2010).
Kimberley Process Failing
The Kimberley Process (KP) was supposed to prevent the trade in diamonds that fund human rights violations. However, The KP’s narrow definition of a “conflict diamond” excludes cut and polished diamonds. Jewellers exploit this anomaly, deceitfully claiming diamonds crafted in Israel are conflict free despite the UN Human Rights Council having found Israel guilty of war crimes and possible crimes against humanity.
Diamonds crafted in Israel cannot be distinguished from other diamonds. Unless a diamond is laser inscribed to identify where it was crafted or the jeweller can provide documentary evidence of where it was cut and polished, there is a high risk of buying an Israeli blood diamond. Israel’s leading exporters of Diamonds are Leo Schachter ( includes Leo Diamonds as sold in Ernest Jones ) and Lev Leviev Diamonds.
White Phosphorus Bomb on Gaza
The World of Blood Diamonds
Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign
Boycott Blood Diamonds
Steinmetz Blood Diamond Protest At Tower of London
IHRC
www.ihrc.org
www.inminds.co.uk
www.scottishpsc.org.uk
www.ipsc.ie