Palestinian civil society organisations, groups and individuals working for justice and peace in the Middle East call upon people in the diamond industry not to attend the International Diamond Week in Israel February 10th-12th 2020.

On December 20th the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC), Fatou Bensouda, concluded there is reasonable basis to believe Israeli forces committed war crimes during the 2014 assault on Gaza which resulted in the deaths of over 2250 people mainly civilian including over 550 children and also in relation to the transfer of Israeli civilians into the West Bank since 13 June 2014.

In 2014 members of the Israeli diamond industry sponsored truck loads of equipment sent to soldiers committing suspected war crimes in Gaza.

According to Israeli political economist Shir Hever, “The Israeli diamond industry contributes about $1 billion annually to the Israeli military. Every time you buy an Israeli diamond some of that money ends up in the Israeli military”.

The diamond industry has been described as a “cornerstone” of the Israeli economy. According to the Jerusalem Post “Israel turns over about $28 billion in diamonds a year. The value of exported diamonds is so significant (about a fifth of total industrial exports) that the government reports its figures sans diamonds to ensure the gems do not skew the values.”

In November 2019, at the conclusion of a three year period of reform, the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme failed to broaden the definition of a “conflict diamond” which is restricted to rough diamonds that fund rebel violence.  As a result, diamonds that are a significant source of funding for government forces guilty of grave human rights violations continue to flood the market labeled conflict free.

In 2015 Israel blocked a previous attempt to broaden the definition of a “conflict diamond” as “it could be disastrous…especially to Israel.”

Diamonds processed in Israel may be Kimberley Process compliant but they are not conflict free. Jewellers and consumers should avoid diamonds from Israel until such time as Israel respects Palestinians inalienable rights and international law.

Everyone in the diamond industry has a responsibility to ensure diamonds that fund war crimes or crimes against humanity are not allowed enter the legitimate market.

According to the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights the responsibility to respect human rights requires that business enterprises “Seek to prevent or mitigate adverse human rights impacts that are directly linked to their operations, products or services by their business relationships, even if they have not contributed to those impacts.” 

Given the aforementioned and Israel’s belligerence in the face of all attempts to bring about  an end to the occupation and subjugation of Palestinians  we believe it is necessary to exert economic pressure to persuade Israel to abide by the norms accepted by civilized nations worldwide.

Signed:

 

The General Union Of Palestinian Woman, Gaza, Palestine

Zeinab El Ghunaimi, Director, Center For Women’s Legal Research, Counseling and Protection, Gaza, Palestine.

Union of Palestinian Women Committees, Gaza

Palestine Action for the Planet

Women Society for Development Studies, Palestine

Society of Women Graduates in Gaza Strip, Palestine

Dr. Ghada Karmi, author, lecturer

Union of the Agricultural Work Committees Association, Palestine

Union of the National Progressive Democrats, Gaza

ICTU (Irish Congress of Trades Unions)

Dr. Ilan Pappe, author historian,

Dr. Ramzy Baroud, author, journalist

Semsem Association for Relief and Development, Gaza

Sonia Mabunda-Kaziboni (Cde), International Secretary COSATU S.A.

Women Affairs Center, Gaza, Palestine

Na’eem Jeenah, Academic, Author, Anti-apartheid activist. S.A.

Community Media Center, Palestine

Miriam Margoyles O.B.E., Actress

Lowkey, Rap artist

Prof. Steven Friedman, Politics Dept.  University of Johannesburg

Alison Weir, If American’s Knew

Ronnie Kasrils, former South African minister,

Afaq Center for Women, Palestine

Alice Rothchild MD USA.

Independent Jewish Voices, Canada

Union for Progressive Youth, Gaza

Study and Documentation Center, Gaza

Aelaf Society for Charity and Development

Nour Society for Learning, Palestine

Al Aqsa Sport Club, Palestine

Firoza Mayet (Campaigns Coordinator); Palestine Solidarity Alliance, S.A

Jon Pullman, Film director

Prof. Mazin Qumsiyeh, Bethlehem University

Margaret Cassar, Convenor of Adelaide BDS

Boycott from Within (Israeli citizens for BDS)

Center for the Empowerment of Women, Palestine

Samed Society for Relief and Development, Palestine

Society for Social Justice, Palestine

Ronnie Barkan, Israeli dissident  

Union for Labor Committees, Palestine

Palestinian Society for development

Ray Williamson, Australia - Vice-President of the Palestine Israel Ecumenical Network

Angus Geddes, Shareholders Against Blood Diamonds

Clare Daly, Member European Parliament

Milad Society of Youth Skills development, Gaza, Palestine

Sahil Society for Growth and development, Gaza, Palestine

Tom Suraez, Author

Nancy Elan, Violinist

Edward Hogan, Chair, Veterans For Peace Ireland

Gail Miller, Jews Say No, NY.

Free Attiaf Performance Group, Gaza

Akabir Performance Group, Gaza,

Jewish Voices for Peace, Hudson Valley, NY

Union of Independent Palestinian Labor Committees, Gaza

Almowared Labor center, Gaza

Charlotte Kates, coordinator Samidoun (Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network)

Jafar Ramini, Writer, journalist, London

Dr. Mohammad Tawil, M.D., Chicago Ridge, IL

Samer Sood, Peace activist, Laguna Beach, CA 

Ellen E. Barfield, Director Baltimore Phil Berrigan Memorial Chapter VFP

Philip Giraldi, Executive Director, Council for the National Interest

Jackie Walker, Author, activist, anti-racism trainer

Yaha Zaloom, Artistic director, The P21 Gallery

Leslie Bravery, Palestine Human Rights Campaign, NZ

Marian Bravery, Palestine Human Rights Campaign NZ

Cindy Shamban, Member JVP Bay Area CA

Australian Friends of Palestine Association Adelaide

Australians for Palestine Melbourne

BDS Australia

Byron Friends of Palestine

Coalition for Justice and Peace in Palestine Sydney

Abbas Ali, Chair, Inminds Human Rights Group, UK

Women for Palestine Melbourne

J-BIG (Jews for Boycotting Israeli Goods)

John Lannon, Shannonwatch, Ireland

Eve Hershcopf, Member Jewish Voice for Peace, Bay Area CA

John Tymon, Football Against Apartheid

Hilmi Dabbagh Co-Convenor BDS Australia

Paul Heywood-Smith QC Patron Australian Friends of Palestine

Professor Jake Lynch, Chair, Department of Peace and Conflict Studies, Luxembourg Prize winner, Sydney University

Hon. Sandra Kanck ex-Member of the Legislative Council South Australia

Dr. Penny Rosenwasser Educator, Author, Rabble-rouser

Jeanie Lucas, Sec. Australian Friends of Palestine Association

Tarak Kauff, Veterans For Peace, Managing Editor, Peace & Planet News

Cathy Peters, Secretary BDS Australia

Gareth Smith, Convenor Byron Friends of Palestine

Mike Cushman, citizen concerned for peace and human rights

Sharen Green on behalf of Protecting Palestinian Families 

Karen Platt, Member JVP, Bay Area, CA.

Stephan Reisig, Visual artist, Amsterdam

Fatin Al Tamini, Chair, Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign

Middle East Crisis Response, Hudson Valley, New York. 

Antoine Raffoul, Founder & Coordinator, 1948.org

Jerry Cook, Member of Byron Friends of Palestine

Rita Mashni Lodi, CA

De-Colinizer Research and Art Laboratory for Social Change (Palestine-Israel)

Massoud Shadjareh, chair Islamic Human Rights Commission

Elizabeth Morley, Human Rights Activist, UK

Muhammad Ali, Ahlulbayt Islamic Mission

Joe Frank, Member Adelaide BDS

Jacky Desbiolles, R& D Engineer, Palestine Israel Ecumenical Network Inc.

Helen Rainger, Australia – President, Palestine Israel Ecumenical Network

Dr Kevin Bray, Australia – Member Palestine Israel Ecumenical Network and Australians for Justice and Peace in Palestine, (PIEN), Australia

Nell Potter, Australia – Executive Officer of the Palestine Israel Ecumenical Network

Nick Riemer, Sydney Staff for BDS

Canon Garth Hewitt

Sabeel-Kairos, UK

Em. Prof. Dr. Herman De Ley, Ghent Univ. (Belgium), BACBI

Samir Abed-Rabbo Palestinian activist, author, and professor

Sean Clinton, human rights activist

Rand Samara, BDS Jordan

For information contact:

 

Contact in English by the media in Gaza, FatHi Tobil: 00972599740757 Sean Clinton 353-872725300

If you would like to add your name to this list please contact  margaret.cassar@internode.on.net

Notes for Editors:

Fatou Bensouda - there is reasonable basis to believe Israeli forces committed war crimes https://www.theguardian.com/law/2019/dec/20/icc-to-investigate-alleged-israeli-and-palestinian-war-crimes

Data from the Report of the Independent Commission of Inquiry on the 2014 Gaza Conflict https://www.ochaopt.org/content/key-figures-2014-hostilities

Diamond industry a cornerstone of the Israeli economy http://jewelleryoutlook.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=722

Israel turns over about $28 billion of diamond a year   https://www.jpost.com/Business/Business-Features/Diamonds-are-not-a-boycotters-best-friend-347843

Trucks of equipment sent to the soldiers in Gaza  https://www.en.isde.co.il/article.aspx?id=28397

The Israeli diamond industry contributes about $1 billion annually to the Israeli military https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aPmTlDFE9-4&t=6s

Kimberley Process failure to reform  https://www.nationaljeweler.com/diamonds-gems/social-issues/8366-kp-again-can-t-agree-on-conflict-eases-restrictions-on-car

Israel Diamond Exchange President, Shmuel Schnitzer, prevented changes in the definition https://www.en.isde.co.il/article.aspx?id=29402

UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights https://www.ohchr.org/documents/publications/guidingprinciplesbusinesshr_en.pdf

OECD Due Diligence Guidelines for Responsible Business Conduct  https://www.oecd.org/investment/due-diligence-guidance-for-responsible-business-conduct.htm