Coalition Calls for Kimberley Process to Oust Israel

RT reported that human rights groups, trade unions and “major civil society organisations” want Israel to be excluded from diamond processing by the Kimberley Process. They claim that “billions of dollars” worth of diamonds from Israel provide revenue to the country’s military, which has been accused of war crimes.

As quoted in the market news:

The coalition is calling for Israel to be excluded from the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme due to its human rights record against Palestinians, and to end all exports of rough diamonds to Israel immediately.

The organizations also wants to ban diamond polishing and cutting in Israel. They claim excluding Israel from the diamond processing would be a great chance for the South African authorities to display “moral vision and political leadership”.

The coalition also pointed to the local benefits of such a move, claiming it could bring more diamond processing jobs back to South Africa.

Click here to read the full RT report.