By Omid Memarian
"UNITED NATIONS, Jul 15 (IPS) - Having successfully lobbied the U.N. Children's Agency UNICEF to stop accepting donations from Israeli billionaire Lev Avnerovich Leviev, activists are urging celebrities who have made public appearances with Leviev to cut all ties with him.
Leviev is the chairman of Africa Israel Investments, a global conglomerate that has been criticised by a variety of NGOs for its involvement in building settlements in the occupied West Bank. During an interview with the Israeli newspaper Ha'aretz earlier this year, Leviev said that he would continue building in the Palestinian territories as long as he had permission from Israel.
Seven diverse groups committed to justice, human rights and peace and representing hundreds of organisations and tens of thousands of people in the U.S., Palestine and Israel have also called on Susan Sarandon, a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, to follow UNICEF's lead and cut all ties with Lev Leviev. Sarandon appeared as a guest at Leviev's Nov. 13, 2007 New York jewelry store gala.
Last month, UNICEF rejected all offers of partnerships and financial support from Leviev, who had previously sponsored UNICEF fundraising events in France. Leviev's support of UNICEF is featured in several places on his company's website......"
"UNITED NATIONS, Jul 15 (IPS) - Having successfully lobbied the U.N. Children's Agency UNICEF to stop accepting donations from Israeli billionaire Lev Avnerovich Leviev, activists are urging celebrities who have made public appearances with Leviev to cut all ties with him.
Leviev is the chairman of Africa Israel Investments, a global conglomerate that has been criticised by a variety of NGOs for its involvement in building settlements in the occupied West Bank. During an interview with the Israeli newspaper Ha'aretz earlier this year, Leviev said that he would continue building in the Palestinian territories as long as he had permission from Israel.
Seven diverse groups committed to justice, human rights and peace and representing hundreds of organisations and tens of thousands of people in the U.S., Palestine and Israel have also called on Susan Sarandon, a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, to follow UNICEF's lead and cut all ties with Lev Leviev. Sarandon appeared as a guest at Leviev's Nov. 13, 2007 New York jewelry store gala.
Last month, UNICEF rejected all offers of partnerships and financial support from Leviev, who had previously sponsored UNICEF fundraising events in France. Leviev's support of UNICEF is featured in several places on his company's website......"
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