Protesters call for V-Day boycott of Leviev
February 11, 2008
New York—Outside the Leviev store on Madison Avenue in New York City on Saturday, some 45 pro-Palestinian protesters urged shoppers to boycott the upscale boutique, which is owned by Israeli diamantaire
Lev Leviev.
The group, Adalah-NY, chose the last major shopping day before Valentine's Day for the protest, which is the seventh one it has held since Leviev's store opened in mid November.
The group says it is opposed to Leviev's "illegal" construction of Israeli settlements on what it claims is occupied Palestinian land.
The protesters carried red, heart-shaped signs that read "Settlements are Heartless," "Won't You be Just?" and "Have a Heart Leviev." Protesters also sang a parody, vaudeville-style version of "Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend."
Londoners also joined the boycott campaign, with 25 activists picketing outside Leviev's Old Bond Street store on Saturday.
Leviev is the
largest diamond exporter in Israel, achieving more than $522 million in diamond exports last year.
Leviev and the LLG Companies, who have called the protests "politically motivated," cite the philanthropic and humanitarian work that the diamantaire and his company have done in the communities where diamonds are mined and processed. Those efforts have included the construction of schools and orphanages, as well as fostering economic development, the company says.
Editor's note: For earlier developments in this story, see
Protestors to picket outside Leviev's new U.S. store and
Protests continue at Leviev's new store.
RSS
