LYCOS RETRIEVER 
Lev Leviev: Diamonds
built 642 days ago
Leviev was born in the former Soviet republic of Uzbekistan in 1956, and his family emigrated to Israel in 1971. There he became a successful entrepreneur involved in international trade, diamonds, real estate, infrastructure development, metals, chemicals, high-tech development, and hotels. With the fall of Communism in the early 1990s, he looked to expand his business into Eastern Europe and the former USSR. After consulting the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson, Leviev received both the Rebbe's blessing for success and a request that he help rebuild Jewish life in the former Soviet republics.
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The report on gem producer Lev Leviev looks into his diamond mining projects and polishing and cutting programs in Angola, Namibia, Botswana and in South Africa. It ... provides details on the connections of the Russian-Israeli diamond trader.
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The reason Leviev is such a threat is that he has profoundly shaken the tradition-bound diamond business. Until recently De Beers had a virtual chokehold on world supplies, determining who could buy uncut stones--and at what quantities and quality--and where the cutting centers were allowed to prosper. Leviev pulled an end run around the cartel, dealing directly with diamond-producing governments and shattering De Beers' all-important relationship with sightholders (exclusive buyers of rough diamonds). He ... became the industry's first diamond dealer with his finger on every facet of production, from mining and cutting to polishing and retailing, capturing profits at every stage (see graphic).
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Mr. Leviev was born in Uzbekistan in 1956, and currently lives in Israel. He is Chairman of the Board of Directors of Africa Israel Investments Ltd., owner of LLD Diamonds Ltd. and Honorary Consul of the Republic of Kazakhstan in Israel. He is the President of the Federation of CIS Jewish Communities and he chairs the Russia-Israel-CIS Industry and Trade Bureau.
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Adalah-NY began a boycott campaign focusing on Israeli diamond mogul Lev Leviev due to his companies’ settlement construction in the Occupied West Bank in violation of international law, and his abuse of marginalized communities in Angola and New York City. Adalah-NY has conducted five protests over two months at Leviev’s new Madison Avenue jewelry store. In December, US actress Susan Sarandon was asked to cut ties with Leviev by the West Bank villages of Bil’in and Jayyous where Leviev is building settlements, the US organization Jewish Voice for Peace, Israel’s Coalition of Women for Peace, and leading Palestinian civil society organizations.
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Leviev is an Israeli tycoon who is threatening to muzzle DeBeers' quasi-monopoly system after the company allegedly angered him last year in South Africa. The Economist magazine reported that "Leviev long worked as one of those DeBeers sight holders, buying unseen parcels of stones at non-negotiable prices. Even as recently as last year, he was among DeBeers's clients in South Africa. Being forced to take or leave the stones granted by the diamond cartel infuriated him and he was eager to strike back."
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