Leviev responds to store protests

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Leviev responds to store protests

March 10, 2008

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New York—In a rare newspaper interview, billionaire Israeli diamantaire Lev Leviev responded to the string of protests that have been held outside his Madison Avenue retail store.

The protests, organized by Adalah-NY, were held, the group says, to draw attention to construction projects by Leviev-owed companies in both the West Bank and New York. Protests called for a boycott of the store.

In an interview with the Israeli newspaper Ha'aretz Daily, Leviev said he doesn't have a problem with building in the territories as long as the State of Israel grants permission.

He said he wasn't aware subcontractor Danya Sibus, owned by Leviev's company Africa Israel, was building in the West Bank.

Leviev also pointed out in the interview that Dor Alon, of which Africa Israel owns 26 percent, is the sole fuel supplier to Palestinians.

He said that the protestors outside his Madison Avenue store are "funded by business competitors."

Adalah-NY has organized eight protests, the latest around Valentine's Day, outside the Leviev retail store on Madison Avenue, which opened in November.

In response to Leviev's newspaper interview, Adalah-NY spokesman Ethan Heitner said, "Leviev has invested heavily in New York real estate. He and his former partner Shaya Boymelgreen have been singled out for their mistreatment of workers, their shoddy construction and their displacement of communities here. We also have close ties with Palestinian and Israeli activists working to save villages like Jayyous and Bil'in from Leviev's settlements. When Leviev opened a swanky jewelry store here and we learned of his companies' role in exploiting and abusing poor communities in Angola through his diamond mining, we said, 'enough.' We must hold Leviev accountable for his business practices."

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