The Israeli Diamond Industry praised Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, who won the Nobel Peace Prize on Oct. 7.

Sirleaf was awarded the coveted prize alongside two other women, Liberian activist Leymah Gbowee and Yemen’s Tawakul Karman.

“President Sirleaf, the first woman to be democratically elected to head a government in Africa, is a role model to women throughout Africa and the world,” said Israel Diamond Institute’s chairman, Moti Ganz, in a statement. “She has brought peace to a country that was plagued for many years by civil war and she has reached out to the international community, including Israel, offer closer ties and mutually beneficial cooperation.”

The Nobel Prize committee cited Sirleaf’s efforts to secure peace in her country, promote economic and social development, and strengthen the position of women.  

In 2007, during an official visit by Sirleaf to Israel, IDI initiated a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between Liberia and the Israeli diamond industry to foster strategic cooperation between the diamond industries of both countries.

JCK