Leviev Protesters May Halt Dubai Store

By JCK Online Staff -- JCK Online, August 1, 2008

The protesters at Lev Leviev’s retail chain may be scoring their first real victory: preventing the famed mogul from opening up stores in Dubai.

Since last year, members of Adalah, which calls itself “The Coalition for Justice in the Middle East,” have sporadically picketed Leviev’s chain worldwide, protesting what they see as Leviev’s support for Israel’s settlement policy in the West Bank as well as alleged “human rights violations” at his Angolan mines.

Leviev had planned two boutiques in Dubai. But once the controversy surfaced, government officials told the local press that Israeli citizens are not allowed to operate in Dubai, and Leviev does not have a permit to operate there. The group also got UNICEF, the charitable organization, to say it will decline future donations from Leviev.

Leviev’s spokespeople didn’t respond to a request for comment from JCK, but in past press reports they have maintained that the stores will go ahead as planned, and noted Leviev’s support for the Kimberley Process and African charities. In remarks to the Israeli press, Leviev has suggested that “competitors” are behind the protests.

Adalah also targeted actress Susan Sarandon for attending the opening of the Leviev store in New York. Meanwhile, Israel supporter Alan Dershowitz appears to have patronized the store in part because of the protests.

Dubai and Politics

Dubai and Israel do not have diplomatic relations. Yet it’s striking that the integration of Dubai into the diamond industry has been relatively free of politics.

There have been exceptions, including the recent controversy over the Leviev store opening. In addition, an Israeli flag was taken down during the recent CIBJO conference there, eyewitnesses say. And both Israeli and Dubai citizens complain of difficulty entering each other’s countries.

But for the most part, the diamond industry, despite its Israeli ties, has gone out of its way to welcome Dubai—signaled by the city’s being chosen to host the 2011 Diamond Association President’s Meeting.