Shoppers alerted to clandestine trade in Israeli diamonds

limerick | rights, freedoms and repression | news report

Saturday December 15, 2007 19:35

by Limerick IPSC - Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign

Buyer beware

Mingling in the crisp chill air with the feint strains of a carol group down the street, chanting human rights volunteers in Limerick city centre alerted Christmas shoppers to the continuing clandestine trade in Israeli diamonds.

Shoppers sign the petition to the Retail jewellers of Ireland

Some shoppers were surprised to learn about the extent of Israeli involvement in the diamond trade and many signed a petition calling on jewellers to give consumers the right to choose Israel-free diamonds.

Jewellers continue to promote the soft sell romantic image of diamonds. However increasing numbers of people are realising that these flashy rocks that are supposed to symbolise love and affection are also funding the flashing bombs and bullets which rain through the walls and roofs of Palestinian homes bringing death, destruction and mayhem to the defenceless victims of Zionist hegemony.

Using the fig leaf of their compliance with the Kimberly Process jewellers are claiming their diamonds are “conflict free” but the reality is utterly different. Israeli is the world’s No. 1 diamond producer and anyone purchasing diamonds that are not branded to identify where they were crafted runs a very high risk of unwittingly funding the Israeli economy and that government’s policy of genocide and ethnic cleansing.

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Comments (6 of 6)

In solidarity with Limerick IPSC

by TD - IPSC

Sun Dec 16, 2007 13:25

In tune with Limerick, Galway IPSC activists took to the street to alert and enlighten the public on the sale of Israeli diamonds in Ireland; unmarked as regards where they were crafted, skulking beneath the fig leaf that they are compliant with UN desiderata and a nice little earner for the economy of rogue state, Israel.

Except from the odd headbanger, we were given a full and fair ear from the public , as such, another info stall on the same subject is planned for next Saturday outside Lynch's castle in Shop street from 11AM to 6PM.

Robert, a new recruit to Galway IPSC journeyed down from Tuam to assist

As always, these Malaysian medical students from the UCHG gave solid support

Margaretta

Betsy and daughter

Last ...

Sun Dec 16, 2007 13:27

Fred

Jumping on the wrong folks??

by Mike Novack

Sun Dec 16, 2007 14:00

"Some shoppers were surprised to learn about the extent of Israeli involvement in the diamond trade and many signed a petition calling on jewellers to give consumers the right to choose Israel-free diamonds."

Folks familiar with me will know that I am a "partisan" with regard to the Israeli vs Palestinian conflict. So I would be greatly against your boycott (to the point of countrattacking) BUT that has nothing to do with what I am about to say..........

It's NOT the jewlers!!!! There is nothing THEY can do to comply with your demand. They don't get to choose where the stones they choose to buy have been cut (no diamonds are PRODUCED in Israel, but cutting "stones" has for hundreds of years been a heavily Jewish craft and following WW II a lot of what was once done in Antwerpt now done in Israel)

The "stone" trade is peculiar, has some rather odd customs. One of these is HOW a jewler gets to buy stones.

A dealer comes around and offers a "sight" on one or more bags. It's called a "sight" because the jeweler gets to look at, examine all the stones in the bag. Some will be extra fine, some good, some fair, and some flawed. Doubtful if any information on "where cut" supplied (in SOME cases, especially with any cut with a rarer type cut, the jewler might be able to guess, but not for common cuts). Then the jeweler gets to take or turn down bags at a specified price. THE WHOLE BAG. The good with the bad. Or in case of your demand, the ones cut in Israel as well as the ones cut in India or wherever.

Understand what I am saying? You need to protest THIS aspect of the diamond trade if you want stones identified by "where cut" because as things stand now, your Irish jewelers CAN'T buy just non-Israeli cut stones. It'd be either take the mix or get no diamonds.

Mike - the customer is always right

by Customer King

Sun Dec 16, 2007 20:17

If consumers demand then retailers will supply. While Mike's point about the take it or leave it nature of the diamond trade may have been true some years ago there are increasing numbers of independent diamond brokers who can supply diamonds cut in countries such as Australia, Canada, South Africa and elsewhere.

So jewellers can source alternative diamonds.

If people believe diamonds crafted in Israel are blood diamonds they wont spend their money on sullied product. As more and more people raise the issue of Israeli blood diamonds jewellers will have to respond to their customers demands.

Protest continued in Dublin

by Garry - IPSC

Tue Dec 18, 2007 20:09

In tandem with stalls in Limerick and Galway, IPSC Dublin members kept the Israeli diamond campaign in the public consciousness - spreading awareness to a crowded Grafton street thronged for Christmas.