Israel has blocked Qatar from heading an international government and civil society initiative that aims to eliminate the trade in blood diamonds that helps fuel violent conflicts in Africa.
The Israeli veto of Qatar’s candidacy to serve as chair of the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme for 2026 comes as Jerusalem has long accused the Gulf state of supporting Hamas and promoting incitement against Israel through its pan-Arab mouthpiece, Al Jazeera.
A 100% consensus is required in the Kimberley Process to enact any policies.
“Qatar is a terror-supporting nation, and we have thereby thwarted the election of an enemy of Israel and the world as chair of the Kimberly Process,” Israeli Economy Minister Nir Barkat told the Israel Hayom daily this weekend. “We stand up against the world’s largest supporter of terrorism, the patron of Hamas on the international economic front as well.”
India was subsequently selected to chair the group, which has 85 member countries.
The Kimberley Process was established in 2003 following civil wars in Angola, Sierra Leone and Liberia, where diamonds were used by armed groups to fund the conflicts.
