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.
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.