Intel To Stay Open On Sabbath In Jerusalem

JERUSALEM — Intel Corp. said it has no plans to close a factory in Jerusalem on Saturdays, despite violent protests by ultra-Orthodox Jews who accuse the chip maker of desecrating the Jewish Sabbath.

About 1,500 protesters demonstrated Saturday outside the company's facilities, located in Jerusalem's Har Hotzvim industrial zone near ultra-Orthodox areas. Intel spokesman Kobi Bachar said Sunday the protests were sparked by the opening of a new facility at the site.

But he said the company has operated on Saturdays for more than 20 years and will continue to do so.

"Nothing has changed. We have been open there for 24 years in accordance with the law," Bachar said.

Ultra-Orthodox activists often protest businesses that open on Saturdays. City Hall's decision to open a municipal parking lot on Saturdays has sparked sometimes violent demonstrations over the past year.

Most work places in Jerusalem shut down for the Jewish Sabbath, which lasts from sundown Friday until Saturday night. Businesses that do open on Saturday's are located away from religious neighborhoods to avoid conflict.

Tensions between secular and ultra-Orthodox Jews, who make up a third of Jerusalem's residents, have always been high. Relations worsened last year when voters elected a secular mayor to replace the ultra-Orthodox incumbent.

Comments

[Peter Noble 2]

Thanks for the education but the Israeli papers and the Forward made a big deal out of Intel having a plant. I think if this was a Muslim country there would be a lot more press about it. There Haredim are entitle to protest but if you do not know why there was and is a flight of secular Jews from Jerusalem to the settlements for tax reasons due to Haredim welfare roles and because of Haredim interference of social life then you know far less then you say you do.
Actually coming from a secular Jewish family but living in New York City I am very aware of the differences. NYC is the best place for a Jew to live in my opinions after living in Europe and being born in Britain.

Anyway thanks for reply. You are right Israel is a leader in software and they have very bright people there but it still does not mean the Intel plant was not also a political decision. It was news worthy at the time for political and strategic reasons. They invested in Israel when many other companies were bomb shy to do so.

[StCuthbert]

Good for Intel for standing up to religious fundamentalism. The Orthodox do have a little too much influence in Israel, to say the least.

[lightningbolt]

Orthodox Jews have yet to realize that Israel is a secular state.

[SouthJerseySteve]

How arrogant of Intel!

[Tom95134]

Maybe they should have built the factory across the border in Palestine.

[lightningbolt]

Islam is far more restrictive. Intel would have had even more problems.

[OliverTwist]

Not to mention the periodic destruction of infrastructure and possible attacks on the facility itself. It is Israeli policy to stop serious industry development in those parts of Palestine not settled by Israelis.

[OldSchoolLiberal]

Good for them.

[Peter Noble 2]

Well that teaches Intel for supporting Israel. This is the nation that upholds American Values of Democracy in the Middle East?

[bobbobato]

the US has it's fundamentalists too. Also don't forget that these people aren't being supported by the government.

[Peter Noble 2]

Yes we have our nutcases too. But these people are mostly on Welfare and spend their lives in prayer. .. on our US tax dollars.

[lightningbolt]

What exactly does this teach Intel?

[Peter Noble 2]

And what does it teach Intel? Well they made a political decision to support Israel by moving a plant to Israel at a time when many international firms were not. It provided great high tech work and I guess I really mean: no good deed goes unpunished?
Intel investing in Israel was big news in Israel and frankly it's pretty poor treatment. The police should treat the Hasidim like they do Palestinian civilians: shoot them.

I'm making a sick political comment. Palestinians would be shot for similar demonstrations.

But these nutcases should be locked up. The reason so many secular Jews have fled Jerusalem to live in the settlements has a lot to do with these nuts running around like mad Mullahs and also because these nuts do not work, the taxes in Jerusalem are very high.