Digging Deeper Into Naomi Campbell’s "Dirty Little Stones"

By Tom Turner, Country Specialist for Amnesty International USA

Did Naomi Campbell know who Charles Taylor was, before the then president of Liberia gave her a bag of rough diamonds? Did she immediately know that the “dirty little stones” in the bag were in fact diamonds? What did she do next? All of this seems rather far from the concerns of Amnesty International, and perhaps more suited to Entertainment Tonight or TMZ than to a serious news outlet.

As I conceded during an interview on WCCO News Radio 830 (Minneapolis), perhaps we should be grateful for the brief attention to the blood diamonds issue in 2010, which had almost disappeared from view since receiving vast attention in 2006, when the Hollywood film starring Leonardo Di Caprio was earning millions of dollars. In my view, that is not really the case. The film stressed the link between the precious stones and the violence they fueled, albeit in a formulaic manner.

This time, however, the brief news stories and video footage provided too little information to enable the listener or viewer to contextualize the Campbell-Taylor episode. Often, one had to read several paragraphs of celebrity “she said, she said” regarding Campbell, her former assistant, and Mia Farrow, before even learning that all this was taking place in an international courtroom in The Hague (Netherlands).

A diamond merchant shows his wares in Kenema, Sierra Leone. Despite its pledge to support the Kimberley Process and Clean Diamond Trade Act, the Diamond Industry has fallen short of implementing the necessary policies for self-regulation. © Chris Hondros/Getty Images.

Charles Taylor is alleged to have traded weapons for rough diamonds from Sierra Leone and in so doing, to have fueled the civil war in that country. During Sierra Leone’s civil war, approximately 75,000 civilians were killed. Over one-third of the population—two million people—was displaced. More than 5,000 children were recruited to fight in both government and opposition forces. Many civilians suffered amputated limbs.

Former President Taylor stands accused of unlawful killings, mutilations, rape, sexual slavery, the recruitment and use of child soldiers, abduction, and the use of forced labor by Sierra Leonean armed opposition groups, which he is alleged to have actively supported.

Amnesty International supported the Kimberley Process, by which diamonds would be certified conflict-free. It has called on the Kimberley Process to strengthen its commitment to protecting human rights and to improve the peer review mechanism. Amnesty continues to press the governments of Sierra Leone and Liberia to investigate and prosecute those responsible for the war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in their countries. Justice must be done and must be seen to be done.

The diamond industry must be reminded that corporate impunity for past crimes relating to blood diamonds will not be tolerated. This is important, as a sign to the victims and the families that the crimes committed against them are not being forgotten. It is equally important as a warning to the people in the industry that we in the human rights community have our eyes on them and will not be as slow to react next time as we were in the case of Sierra Leone and Liberia.

Tom Turner is Democratic Republic of Congo Country Specialist for Amnesty International USA. He is the author of The Congo Wars: Conflict, Myth and Reality (Zed Books, 2007).

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52 thoughts on “Digging Deeper Into Naomi Campbell’s "Dirty Little Stones"

  1. While the human rights community may have their eyes on the diamond industry it seems they have a rather blinkered view of the blood diamond issue. Why isn't Amnesty International calling for an urgent review of the Kimberley Process so all diamonds that fund human rights abuses are classed as blood diamonds and banned and not just "rough diamonds use by rebel movements"? This ridiculously narrow definition of a blood diamond facilitates the contamination of the entire diamond market with diamonds that fund human rights abuses committed by governments. According to the Kimberley Process, diamonds that fund war crimes in Sierra Leone are blood diamonds but diamonds that fund war crimes in Gaza are "conflict free". Not only is the Kimberly Process failing to prevent the sale of blood diamonds from Israel and also from Zimbabwe, it allows jewellers to sell them to unsuspecting customers as “conflict free” diamonds. The public can have no confidence in the Kimberley Process as it was severely compromised by powerful vested interests before it ever got off the ground. Related article: http://www.indymedia.ie/article/97401

  2. While the human rights community may have their eyes on the diamond industry it seems they have a rather blinkered view of the blood diamond issue. Why isn't Amnesty International calling for an urgent review of the Kimberley Process so all diamonds that fund human rights abuses are classed as blood diamonds and banned and not just "rough diamonds use by rebel movements"? This ridiculously narrow definition of a blood diamond facilitates the contamination of the entire diamond market with diamonds that fund human rights abuses committed by governments. According to the Kimberley Process, diamonds that fund war crimes in Sierra Leone are blood diamonds but diamonds that fund war crimes in Gaza are "conflict free". Not only is the Kimberly Process failing to prevent the sale of blood diamonds from Israel and also from Zimbabwe, it allows jewellers to sell them to unsuspecting customers as “conflict free” diamonds. The public can have no confidence in the Kimberley Process as it was severely compromised by powerful vested interests before it ever got off the ground. Related article: http://www.indymedia.ie/article/97401

  3. While the human rights community may have their eyes on the diamond industry it seems they have a rather blinkered view of the blood diamond issue. Why isn't Amnesty International calling for an urgent review of the Kimberley Process so all diamonds that fund human rights abuses are classed as blood diamonds and banned and not just "rough diamonds use by rebel movements"? This ridiculously narrow definition of a blood diamond facilitates the contamination of the entire diamond market with diamonds that fund human rights abuses committed by governments. According to the Kimberley Process, diamonds that fund war crimes in Sierra Leone are blood diamonds but diamonds that fund war crimes in Gaza are "conflict free". Not only is the Kimberly Process failing to prevent the sale of blood diamonds from Israel and also from Zimbabwe, it allows jewellers to sell them to unsuspecting customers as “conflict free” diamonds. The public can have no confidence in the Kimberley Process as it was severely compromised by powerful vested interests before it ever got off the ground. Related article: http://www.indymedia.ie/article/97401

  4. many of the problems which still plagues african nations is the very fact that so many are not educated as other continents are due to their financial position after SLAVERY,which allows the few that are educated(by tribal old customs),are then priveleged to be sent for education(europe/america)returning to be able to dictate and manipulate the indigenous majority who are non educated.take for instance mugabe/amin etc who used the very system of control used in the colonised days(ILLUMANTI)from oxford/cambridge/harvard.we also must except certain western countries made sure they locked down the very jewels of those countries fortunate to have wealth beneath their land ie minerals/oil etc to filter out at their gain for little or no profit to those countries.history shows majority of land owners(Afrikaners)settled in southern africa from european countries.acceptance of those historical facts brings me to the assumption as to why africa has not forged forward as it should.i'm not been racist but realists in saying CREED IS AFRICAS NEMESIS.peace n unity leads to harmony for all mankind

  5. While the human rights community may have their eyes on the diamond industry it seems they have a rather blinkered view of the blood diamond issue. Why isn’t Amnesty International calling for an urgent review of the Kimberley Process so all diamonds that fund human rights abuses are classed as blood diamonds and banned and not just “rough diamonds use by rebel movements”? This ridiculously narrow definition of a blood diamond facilitates the contamination of the entire diamond market with diamonds that fund human rights abuses committed by governments. According to the Kimberley Process, diamonds that fund war crimes in Sierra Leone are blood diamonds but diamonds that fund war crimes in Gaza are “conflict free”. Not only is the Kimberly Process failing to prevent the sale of blood diamonds from Israel and also from Zimbabwe, it allows jewellers to sell them to unsuspecting customers as “conflict free” diamonds. The public can have no confidence in the Kimberley Process as it was severely compromised by powerful vested interests before it ever got off the ground. Related article: http://www.indymedia.ie/article/97401

  6. many of the problems which still plagues african nations is the very fact that so many are not educated as other continents are due to their financial position after SLAVERY,which allows the few that are educated(by tribal old customs),are then priveleged to be sent for education(europe/america)returning to be able to dictate and manipulate the indigenous majority who are non educated.take for instance mugabe/amin etc who used the very system of control used in the colonised days(ILLUMANTI)from oxford/cambridge/harvard.we also must except certain western countries made sure they locked down the very jewels of those countries fortunate to have wealth beneath their land ie minerals/oil etc to filter out at their gain for little or no profit to those countries.history shows majority of land owners(Afrikaners)settled in southern africa from european countries.acceptance of those historical facts brings me to the assumption as to why africa has not forged forward as it should.i’m not been racist but realists in saying CREED IS AFRICAS NEMESIS.peace n unity leads to harmony for all mankind

  7. Sean Clinton,

    Thank you !!

    i completely agree with your argument.

    Blood diamonds from israel and Zimbabwe should be classified & labeled as such, and delegitimized, banned, boycotted, & taken off the market !

  8. Sean Clinton,

    Thank you !!

    i completely agree with your argument.

    Blood diamonds from israel and Zimbabwe should be classified & labeled as such, and delegitimized, banned, boycotted, & taken off the market !

  9. Funny, I never wondered why Ms. Campbell was doing partying with Mandela; I couldn't help but wonder what ex-president Taylor was doing at a party with NELSON MANDELA did the latter not know about this brutal man? As for blood diamonds getting attention, yes, this terrible thing deserves sustained attention.
    Elsie De Laere
    CS Afghanistan

  10. Funny, I never wondered why Ms. Campbell was doing partying with Mandela; I couldn’t help but wonder what ex-president Taylor was doing at a party with NELSON MANDELA did the latter not know about this brutal man? As for blood diamonds getting attention, yes, this terrible thing deserves sustained attention.
    Elsie De Laere
    CS Afghanistan

  11. For those who seek to hijack the Israeli-Arab conflict as a Kimberley Process diamond issue: If you are not hypocrites, why don't you call for British and American diamonds to be labelled the same: After all, taxes in Britain and the US also go to funding wars – and last time I checked more people have died in the war in no more than a decade of war Iraq than have died in the last century in the entire Arab-Israeli conflict.

    You hypocrites are not interested in 'justice', unless you can somehow find a way to blame Israel. Before you start criticising Israel, you should take a good hard look at your own policies.

  12. For those who seek to hijack the Israeli-Arab conflict as a Kimberley Process diamond issue: If you are not hypocrites, why don’t you call for British and American diamonds to be labelled the same: After all, taxes in Britain and the US also go to funding wars – and last time I checked more people have died in the war in no more than a decade of war Iraq than have died in the last century in the entire Arab-Israeli conflict.

    You hypocrites are not interested in ‘justice’, unless you can somehow find a way to blame Israel. Before you start criticising Israel, you should take a good hard look at your own policies.

  13. Very enlightening Seán, thanks. i have long been worried at the fact that Governments in Europe including my own (Irish) treat the israelis as they would any other state despite their appalling behaviour. The boycott campaign gives us the power to stand up for what we believe in regardless of our governments

  14. Finbarr – have you also been worried about the way governments in Europe treat other countries – those with far far worse human rights records than anyone dare accuse Israel of?

  15. @not a hypocrite

    What countries are you referring to that has a worse human rights record than Israel? It is a sectarian racist state founded on ethnic cleansing and maintained by ethnic cleansing and war crimes, the latest being the slaughter of those onboad the gaza aid flotilla. Israeli blood diamonds SHOULD be banned. Jewellers should refuse to stock them in the meantime

  16. Brian – what exactly would constitute a 'bad human rights record' in your opinion? Could the number of deaths in a conflict be a significant figure?

    Off the top of my head – if we are talking about a far worse human rights record than Israel how about Russia or China?

  17. seeing as you mention the flotilla – during the same month that that happened there were lots of Muslim deaths caused by conflicts:
    Over 70 Kurds were killed by the Turkish.
    In Pakistan, over 700 people were killed
    In Afghanistan, about 250
    In Kashmir about 50
    Russian federation – about 20.

    And this was a relatively quiet month worldwide.

    But, so many 'do-gooders' only give a damn about 9 people who died on the flotilla.

    So, why is it that there are so many people who don't give a damn about anyone dying in conflict unless they can put the blame on Israel?

  18. Very enlightening Seán, thanks. i have long been worried at the fact that Governments in Europe including my own (Irish) treat the israelis as they would any other state despite their appalling behaviour. The boycott campaign gives us the power to stand up for what we believe in regardless of our governments

  19. Finbarr – have you also been worried about the way governments in Europe treat other countries – those with far far worse human rights records than anyone dare accuse Israel of?

  20. @not a hypocrite

    What countries are you referring to that has a worse human rights record than Israel? It is a sectarian racist state founded on ethnic cleansing and maintained by ethnic cleansing and war crimes, the latest being the slaughter of those onboad the gaza aid flotilla. Israeli blood diamonds SHOULD be banned. Jewellers should refuse to stock them in the meantime

  21. Brian – what exactly would constitute a ‘bad human rights record’ in your opinion? Could the number of deaths in a conflict be a significant figure?

    Off the top of my head – if we are talking about a far worse human rights record than Israel how about Russia or China?

  22. seeing as you mention the flotilla – during the same month that that happened there were lots of Muslim deaths caused by conflicts:
    Over 70 Kurds were killed by the Turkish.
    In Pakistan, over 700 people were killed
    In Afghanistan, about 250
    In Kashmir about 50
    Russian federation – about 20.

    And this was a relatively quiet month worldwide.

    But, so many ‘do-gooders’ only give a damn about 9 people who died on the flotilla.

    So, why is it that there are so many people who don’t give a damn about anyone dying in conflict unless they can put the blame on Israel?

  23. Yes, all those deaths occured in all those lands.

    But the states mentioned above have not institutionalized apartheid in the regions where the deaths occured.

    israel has.

  24. And if you keep mentioning the Kurds in this context, why has israel sold Heron drones to Turkey to be used against them ?

    And if you mention Afpak, why are the proisrael lobby & US admistration hawks the very ones behind that war ?

    And if Kashmir, why do israeli generals visit that land & collude with india against its people ?

    Still against hypocrisy ?

  25. Yes, all those deaths occured in all those lands.

    But the states mentioned above have not institutionalized apartheid in the regions where the deaths occured.

    israel has.

  26. how do you know what other campaigns people take part in, not a hypocrite? "But, so many ‘do-gooders’ only give a damn about 9 people who died on the flotilla."- it's about the suffering of millions, the deaths of thousands and imprisonment of thousands more and you know that.

    "Russian federation – about 20" – you also fail to mention the Palestinians killed by israel in the same week as the flotilla and the women and children who were hit by fragmentation artiliary rounds a few days later. but no, you choose to see this as being about 9 aid activists.

  27. And if you keep mentioning the Kurds in this context, why has israel sold Heron drones to Turkey to be used against them ?

    And if you mention Afpak, why are the proisrael lobby & US admistration hawks the very ones behind that war ?

    And if Kashmir, why do israeli generals visit that land & collude with india against its people ?

    Still against hypocrisy ?

  28. So. A Savage – so, according to your first response, the deaths of hundreds of people is not nearly as much an issue as the alleged apartheid in Israel.

    You certainly have your priorities in order!! Who cares about dead people as long as you can continue to criticize Israel?!

  29. As for your second comment A Savage:
    I gather it is very convenient to somehow attribute every bad thing to Israel in some way. (I guess this is how you justify your conscience over your (presumed) singling out of Israel.)

    the thing is – if Israel is behind all these wars as you imply, what on earth does it say for the intelligence for the people of these countries that they can manage to somehow be tricked by the Israelis? Israelis (or Jews as a whole if you prefer) make up at most 1% of the world's population.
    Either the Israelis are very very smart, or the people you try to portray as not in control of their destiny, are very very stupid.

    Yes – I am against hypocrisy. I find the singling out of Israel as the 'blame' for everything (as you provided a perfect example of above) to be one of the most evil examples of hypocrisy existing in the civilized world.
    The self-professed 'Pro-Palestinian' (or more precisely anti-Israel or anti-Jewish activists) are the most shocking example of this hypocrisy.

  30. Finbar – "how do you know what other campaigns people take part in, not a hypocrite?"

    I obviously don't. I base the estimate on the tremendous silence when it comes to other people dying in more violent wars versus the loud noise when Israel can be criticized.

    For example, how many demos did you see in Western countries during the time of the flotilla? And how many demos did you see against the actions of Nato troops during this period?
    I would have imagined that citizens of countries belonging to Nato might wish to demonstrate against the killing of civilians by Nato, but apparently not!

  31. the funny thing is finbar – sometimes it is quite easy to gather info about a person from google. for example,I googled your name and find quite a few references to anti-Israel things, birdwatching, but a lack of other political campaigns.
    Anyway – the point is that you posted this elsewhere: "israel have no interest in finding a peaceful way forward, why would they?"

    Completely and utterly wrong.
    Why would Israelis, who have a quality of life that may well exceed that in Ireland, be interested in maintaining the conflict? Quite honestly, Israelis have better things to do (Israelis excel in a number of fields – medical, hi-tech, science and more) than keep up a conflict that they have no chance of winning.

    Why would Israel give up the Sinai to Egypt in return for nothing except the prospect of peace?

    Why would Israel remove the Jews from the Gaza strip if there is no interest in finding a peaceful solution? (Incidentally, for those who cry 'apartheid', Gaza is as Judenfrei as Nazi Germany – while 20% of Israelis are Arabs.)

    Israel has the most to gain from peace!!! Far more than the Palestinians – unfortunately.

    As one Israeli politician said: "If the Palestinians were to put down their weapons tomorrow there would be peace. If the Israelis were to put down their weapons, there would be no Israel."

  32. Also, Finnbar – how passionately do you feel about labelling British diamonds as blood diamonds? After all, the taxes from them go towards the British govt which is involved in a far more deadly conflict in Iraq, for example, than the Israeli-Arab conflict.

  33. how do you know what other campaigns people take part in, not a hypocrite? “But, so many ‘do-gooders’ only give a damn about 9 people who died on the flotilla.”- it’s about the suffering of millions, the deaths of thousands and imprisonment of thousands more and you know that.

    “Russian federation – about 20” – you also fail to mention the Palestinians killed by israel in the same week as the flotilla and the women and children who were hit by fragmentation artiliary rounds a few days later. but no, you choose to see this as being about 9 aid activists.

  34. So. A Savage – so, according to your first response, the deaths of hundreds of people is not nearly as much an issue as the alleged apartheid in Israel.

    You certainly have your priorities in order!! Who cares about dead people as long as you can continue to criticize Israel?!

  35. As for your second comment A Savage:
    I gather it is very convenient to somehow attribute every bad thing to Israel in some way. (I guess this is how you justify your conscience over your (presumed) singling out of Israel.)

    the thing is – if Israel is behind all these wars as you imply, what on earth does it say for the intelligence for the people of these countries that they can manage to somehow be tricked by the Israelis? Israelis (or Jews as a whole if you prefer) make up at most 1% of the world’s population.
    Either the Israelis are very very smart, or the people you try to portray as not in control of their destiny, are very very stupid.

    Yes – I am against hypocrisy. I find the singling out of Israel as the ‘blame’ for everything (as you provided a perfect example of above) to be one of the most evil examples of hypocrisy existing in the civilized world.
    The self-professed ‘Pro-Palestinian’ (or more precisely anti-Israel or anti-Jewish activists) are the most shocking example of this hypocrisy.

  36. Finbar – “how do you know what other campaigns people take part in, not a hypocrite?”

    I obviously don’t. I base the estimate on the tremendous silence when it comes to other people dying in more violent wars versus the loud noise when Israel can be criticized.

    For example, how many demos did you see in Western countries during the time of the flotilla? And how many demos did you see against the actions of Nato troops during this period?
    I would have imagined that citizens of countries belonging to Nato might wish to demonstrate against the killing of civilians by Nato, but apparently not!

  37. the funny thing is finbar – sometimes it is quite easy to gather info about a person from google. for example,I googled your name and find quite a few references to anti-Israel things, birdwatching, but a lack of other political campaigns.
    Anyway – the point is that you posted this elsewhere: “israel have no interest in finding a peaceful way forward, why would they?”

    Completely and utterly wrong.
    Why would Israelis, who have a quality of life that may well exceed that in Ireland, be interested in maintaining the conflict? Quite honestly, Israelis have better things to do (Israelis excel in a number of fields – medical, hi-tech, science and more) than keep up a conflict that they have no chance of winning.

    Why would Israel give up the Sinai to Egypt in return for nothing except the prospect of peace?

    Why would Israel remove the Jews from the Gaza strip if there is no interest in finding a peaceful solution? (Incidentally, for those who cry ‘apartheid’, Gaza is as Judenfrei as Nazi Germany – while 20% of Israelis are Arabs.)

    Israel has the most to gain from peace!!! Far more than the Palestinians – unfortunately.

    As one Israeli politician said: “If the Palestinians were to put down their weapons tomorrow there would be peace. If the Israelis were to put down their weapons, there would be no Israel.”

  38. Wow, not a hypocrite, you realy want to avoid the issues don't you. good work, you have exposed the standard methods of zionists. don't debate the allegations just point out the situations in the world that should be sorted out first (while "facts on the ground" are being established), feed the line about the "island of civilisation in a sea of terrorists" and finally, dismiss and attack the messengers. all to avoid debate. btw, not a hypocrite, feel free to google me i don't hide behind a fake name, i have nothing to hide. bye now

  39. Also, Finnbar – how passionately do you feel about labelling British diamonds as blood diamonds? After all, the taxes from them go towards the British govt which is involved in a far more deadly conflict in Iraq, for example, than the Israeli-Arab conflict.

  40. Wow, not a hypocrite, you realy want to avoid the issues don’t you. good work, you have exposed the standard methods of zionists. don’t debate the allegations just point out the situations in the world that should be sorted out first (while “facts on the ground” are being established), feed the line about the “island of civilisation in a sea of terrorists” and finally, dismiss and attack the messengers. all to avoid debate. btw, not a hypocrite, feel free to google me i don’t hide behind a fake name, i have nothing to hide. bye now

  41. finbarr – "don’t debate the allegations just point out the situations in the world that should be sorted out first"

    Actually, finbarr I referred to the other situations to confirm the hypocrisy of yourself and the other anti-Zionists (or whatever you wish to label them.)

    And I am still wondering, why some people, yourself included, care passionately about some (apparently limited to when you can blame Israel/Jews/Zionists) and turn a blind eye when dozens of times as many people die elsewhere.

    Though you claim you have nothing to hide, you can't explain that one can you?

  42. finbarr – “don’t debate the allegations just point out the situations in the world that should be sorted out first”

    Actually, finbarr I referred to the other situations to confirm the hypocrisy of yourself and the other anti-Zionists (or whatever you wish to label them.)

    And I am still wondering, why some people, yourself included, care passionately about some (apparently limited to when you can blame Israel/Jews/Zionists) and turn a blind eye when dozens of times as many people die elsewhere.

    Though you claim you have nothing to hide, you can’t explain that one can you?

  43. Not a hypocrite – you choose to remain anonymous and snipe at others from your foxhole. All this whataboutery is just a smoke screen, regularly thrown up by those who seek to shelter the Israeli regime from criticism. The point of my original post, that you have failed to address, is the fact that the Kimberley Process allows diamonds form countries that are guilty of war crimes to flood the market – diamonds crafted in Israel are blood diamond and should be banned.

  44. Not a hypocrite – you choose to remain anonymous and snipe at others from your foxhole. All this whataboutery is just a smoke screen, regularly thrown up by those who seek to shelter the Israeli regime from criticism. The point of my original post, that you have failed to address, is the fact that the Kimberley Process allows diamonds form countries that are guilty of war crimes to flood the market – diamonds crafted in Israel are blood diamond and should be banned.

  45. Sean: Should diamonds from England be labelled blood diamonds – after all, the taxes from the British diamond trade goes towards supporting the war in Iraq?

    Should diamonds from the US be labelled blood diamonds – after all, the taxes from the US diamond trade goes towards supporting the war in Iraq?

    Should diamonds from Russia be labelled blood diamonds – after all, the taxes from the Russian diamond trade goes towards supporting the war in Chechnya?

    The list can go on and on, but you should get my point: why are you being hypocritical and singling out Israel?

    We see the same indefensible behavior time and again from hateful hypocrites – who are seemingly obsessed with their hatred of Israel.

  46. Isarel is the world's No.1 diamond exporter with exports valued at c. $20 billion in 2008 accounting for over 30% of total exports. Israel was found guilty of war crimes and possible crines against humanity by an UN investigation following the three week assault on Gaza in December 2008 – January 2009. Gaza is under siege since 2007 – collective punishment, another war crimne according to the Geneva Conventions. Diamonds from any country guilty of war crimes should certainly be classed as blood diamonds and banned …don't you agree?
    After all what woman would want to wear diamonds crafted in Israel knowing that they were funding state terrorisim including the use of weapons of mass destruction including white phosphorous and flechett nail bombs against an imprisoned civilian population that has no means to protect itself, no shelter and no possibility of leaving the area.

  47. Sean – I can list here dozens of great and positive things about Israel, but you are really missing the point. The question is – why do YOU single Israel out?

    I find that when people are inconsistent with their 'political' activities it has little to do with 'justice' – it is far more to do with obsessive hatred – to the extent that it reflects more badly on those who are obsessed with hatred than it reflects on Israel.

    Would you describe yourself as obsessed, interested in justice, or how?

  48. Sean: Should diamonds from England be labelled blood diamonds – after all, the taxes from the British diamond trade goes towards supporting the war in Iraq?

    Should diamonds from the US be labelled blood diamonds – after all, the taxes from the US diamond trade goes towards supporting the war in Iraq?

    Should diamonds from Russia be labelled blood diamonds – after all, the taxes from the Russian diamond trade goes towards supporting the war in Chechnya?

    The list can go on and on, but you should get my point: why are you being hypocritical and singling out Israel?

    We see the same indefensible behavior time and again from hateful hypocrites – who are seemingly obsessed with their hatred of Israel.

  49. Isarel is the world’s No.1 diamond exporter with exports valued at c. $20 billion in 2008 accounting for over 30% of total exports. Israel was found guilty of war crimes and possible crines against humanity by an UN investigation following the three week assault on Gaza in December 2008 – January 2009. Gaza is under siege since 2007 – collective punishment, another war crimne according to the Geneva Conventions. Diamonds from any country guilty of war crimes should certainly be classed as blood diamonds and banned …don’t you agree?
    After all what woman would want to wear diamonds crafted in Israel knowing that they were funding state terrorisim including the use of weapons of mass destruction including white phosphorous and flechett nail bombs against an imprisoned civilian population that has no means to protect itself, no shelter and no possibility of leaving the area.

  50. Sean – I can list here dozens of great and positive things about Israel, but you are really missing the point. The question is – why do YOU single Israel out?

    I find that when people are inconsistent with their ‘political’ activities it has little to do with ‘justice’ – it is far more to do with obsessive hatred – to the extent that it reflects more badly on those who are obsessed with hatred than it reflects on Israel.

    Would you describe yourself as obsessed, interested in justice, or how?

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