Part 1: Boycott Israeli Blood Diamonds info stall, Dublin 26-11-2011.wmv

Diamonds are Israel's number one export commodity, accounting for between one quarter and one third of Israeli exports. In 2008, diamond exports were valued at $19.4 billion with a net value of approximately $10 billion — far exceeding even the gross value of electronic or pharmaceutical exports.

The diamond industry in Israel adds 5 percent to the GDP and is a significant source of the revenue needed to sustain Israel's occupations, siege on Gaza and illegal settlements.

Israel's occupation of Palestinian land and the brutal subjugation of the Palestinian people places a heavy burden on Israeli government finances. According to US government statistics, Israel's military expenditures consume more than 7 percent of the GDP, or approximately $16 billion per year (CIA World Factbook - Israel).

While American military aid of $3 billion per year is significant, the bulk of the money needed to sustain the many facets of Israeli hegemony has to be extracted from the economy in taxes of one form or another.

However, American consumers contribute more than the value of Washington's aid package to the Israeli economy through the purchase of Israeli diamonds. According to the Israeli diamond industry website, approximately 50 percent of all diamonds bought in the US come from Israel ("The Israeli diamond industry - A leading center of the diamond world").

The US is Israel's most important diamond export market, accounting for roughly 40 percent of exports. In 2010 the net value of Israeli diamond exports to America was $5.8 billion ("IDI plans its largest participation at JCK Las Vegas," Diamond World website, 17 May 2011).

Israel's economy, to a large extent isolated from its natural markets in neighboring Arab states, is heavily reliant on the export of goods and services to Europe, the US and Asia. Israeli planners have long recognized the need for high-value, export-orientated industries that would draw in the foreign currency necessary to sustain the Zionist project in Palestine. http://www.countercurrents.org/clinton250611.htm

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• Sean Clinton
• Boycott Israeli Blood Diamonds
• Raymond Deane
• IPSC
• Thom Moore

[taxsyn]

Yes, we know Europeans would rather see Jews dead than defend themselves. They've proven this time and again - what's new?

[historicrecord]

notice their silence about what's going on in Syria and Iran - deafening isn;t it ?

[musikali1]

True Muslims don't fight Israel, because the Quran says Allah has promised the land to the Jews, and that they shall return to Israel. Peace not War

[phellenic]

"Palestine belongs to the Arabs in the same sense that England belongs to the English or France to the French. It is wrong and inhuman to impose the Jews on the Arabs. What is going on in Palestine today cannot be justified by any moral code of conduct" written by GANDHI - FROM HARIJAN, NOVEMBER 26, 1938

[phellenic]

The Russell Tribunal on Palestine and its eminent panel of international jurists has determined that Israel's practices against the Palestinian people are in breach of the prohibition of apartheid under international law. Following two intense days in Cape Town listening to testimony from expert witnesses, the Tribunal concluded unanimously that "Israel subjects the Palestinian people to an institutionalised regime of domination amounting to apartheid as defined under international law."

[historicrecord]

@taxsyn

Not all Europeans -remember the Irish leader De Valera supported Hitler - sending him a telegram of congratulations when he conquered Paris and passing on condolences through the German embassy when Hitler committed sucicide

[imkalam]

@bigcoolviking Is GOD a state agent,Ok if he is so the All the immigrant are promised every bit of the country,so shut your face

[ramihamouri]

god bless those brave English and Irish people

[ramihamouri]

u stupid israeli is palestine of course they will come to take their land so brain washed those jewish hhhahah