What appears to be a coalition of American Black militants and Arabs has announced a symposium to be held at. Ohio State University on May 20 to expose “the intimate bonds of Israeli Zionism to South African apartheid” by focusing on the diamond industries of both countries. The organizers of the symposium stated in their announcement that “South Africa is the world’s biggest producer of gem diamonds. Israel is the world’s largest diamond polishing center. And the United States is the world’s largest gem diamond market.”
The group stated in a press release that “Many of the major contributors to the United Jewish Appeal and purchasers of Israeli Bonds are big diamond dealers and financiers who have heavily invested in the Israeli and South African economies.” One stated purpose of the group is to institute a diamond boycott and to back a bill recently introduced in Congress by Rep. Ronald V. Dellums (D. Calif.) a member of the Congressional Black Caucus, which would liquidate American business interests in South Africa.
The group also stated its support of a resolution adopted at the Black National Convention in Gary, Indiana last March 12 which called for the dismantling of Israel. “Israeli sympathizers later forced some members of the Congressional Black Caucus to water down the text of the resolution,” they stated.
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The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
