Jerusalem – Intel ‘May Close Plant’ Following Sabbath Protests

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    Protesting at companys gate Saturday  Photo: Gil YohananJerusalem – Computer chip giant Intel may close down its Jerusalem plant because of the protests by Hareidi Religious Jews against it, a source within Intel told Arutz Sheva’s Hebrew service.

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    Some 1,500 haredim arrived at the electronic chip maker’s offices in the Har Hotzvim hi-tech industrial neighborhood in Jerusalem on Saturday to protest the fact that the company employs dozens of workers on Shabbat. The devout Jews, dressed in their traditional black hats and long coats, shouted “Shabbes! Shabbes!” – the Yiddish word for Sabbath – while banging against one of the door’s of Intel’s Jerusalem office.

    After almost two hours of relative calm, hundreds of the demonstrators began attacking reporters covering the protest. The haredim hurled gravel and various other objects at the journalists, but no one was injured. Police say the protesters attacked journalists and there was evidence that some damage was caused to the plant’s front door.

    Another incident occurred when Deputy Jerusalem Mayor Yitzhak Pindrus of the United Torah Judaism party arrived at the scene.

    The ultra-Orthodox demonstrators forced him out of the area, and protested against the fact that despite his being haredi as well, he has failed to use his position to prevent the Shabbat desecration.

    Police forces blocked the roads leading to the Har Hotzvim compound so as to prevent seculars from accidently entering the area with their vehicles. Police and security officers were scarce within the compound, and were mostly operating outside of it.

    The large number of participants in the demonstration is the result of the many calls the community’s head rabbis made urging the public to join the protest, as well as the rare cooperation between the Edah Haredit and the mainstream ultra-Orthodox public.

    Last minute attempts to prevent the demonstration failed after MK Uri Maklev (UTJ) met on Thursday with Intel Israel general manager Maxine Fassberg in the Knesset, together with Speaker Reuven Rivlin.

    Maklev’s spokesman said after the meeting that while he appreciated the importance of bringing jobs to the capital, protecting the sanctity of Shabbat was more important.

    “Fassberg, meanwhile, apparently puts the value of employment and production before the Shabbat,” said the spokesman, who added that Fassberg had promised to look into operating the factory with non-Jewish staff.

    Maklev was expected to meet with leading rabbinical authorities to discuss how best to respond to Fassberg’s suggestions.
    Charedim at Har Hotzvim compound  Photo: Gil Yohanan
    Intel Israel spokesman Koby Behar, who declined to comment on the Knesset meeting, said, “We at Intel Israel are operating in accordance with our business needs and in accordance with the law.”

    But Maklev’s spokesman said in response that Intel was breaking the Shabbat Day of Rest Law by employing Jews on Shabbat.

    “Intel has not received a permit to work on Shabbat,” said the spokesman, adding that the planned demonstrations were aimed at pressing the government to enforce the law against Intel.
    The law prohibits the employment of Jewish Israelis on Shabbat, which is legally declared a day of rest. Certain exceptions are made for industries that deal with national security, public health or other sensitive fields.

    Although a unified coalition of haredi organizations has banded together to fight Intel’s Shabbat operations, there are differences of approach regarding the best tactic to adopt.
    Photos : Kikar.net
    The traditionalist Eda Haredit called in its mouthpiece, Ha’edah, for mass demonstrations. “Money-hungry men have gathered to demolish the holy walls of the Shabbat,” read the headline of Ha’edah on Friday. The headline is patterned after the well-known Hanukka song “Ma’oz Tzur,” which describes the Jewish people’s heroic opposition to Ancient Greece’s attempts to contaminate Jewish culture during the Second Temple era.

    In contrast, an editor at the mainstream haredi daily Hamodia, which targets the hassidic public, said it was still unclear whether there would be a mass demonstration. “Dialogue is always a better solution,” said the source. “We do not necessarily agree with the Eda Haredit’s tactic of aggression. In fact, we have never launched a violent fight to protect the holiness of Shabbat. We are concerned about the negative ramifications this could have for our youths.”

    Intel has had a factory in Jerusalem since 1985. About a year and a half ago, the existing factory was dismantled and revamped. This Sunday, there will be an official launching ceremony, to be attended by Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat, Industry, Trade and Labor Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer and Fassberg.

    Computer chips produced in Intel’s Kiryat Gat factory are brought to the capital for the last stage of production, including cutting and packaging. Sources in Intel told The Jerusalem Post that stopping the production process could cause severe damage to productivity and endanger the business feasibility of Intel’s operations in both Jerusalem and Kiryat Gat.

    Intel Israel employs approximately 6,500 people, in addition to thousands of contractors and service-providers indirectly employed by the hi-tech mammoth.

    MK Nitzan Horowitz (Meretz) warned Saturday that the demonstrations against Intel could “cause the city’s economic base to flee.”

    “Plants and firms like Intel not only supply sustenance to residents of Jerusalem, they also sustain the public coffers and enable the city to supply services to the populace, including the hareidis,” he said.

    “The eida hareidit is only looking for battles that will keep it united and enable it to raise money abroad, and we all pay the price,” he added.


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    53 Comments
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    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    If they will close for next shabbos,hut men epes oifgetun.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    This makes me sick! Are you guys gods police? Go learn go play with your kids this chillel hashem is unheard of! It gives Judaism the ugliest look out there.. Enough is enough yiddishkeit today is based on crap the whole thing is corrupt from beginning till the end,

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    These people could care less about shabbos as demonstrated over and over again as they are mechalel shabbos at these rallies. I hope they just kill themselves.

    Sad
    Sad
    14 years ago

    Terrible Chillul Hashem once again…

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    Well why doesnt the government enforce the law?, ie. the stats quo that busineses should be closed???

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    Idiots, they want to sit and learn then let them learn. Don’t expect government handouts and force the economy down with it.

    Let’s see the benifit, force them to leave or give the jobs to Goyim. 6,500 jewish jobs that will be lost, smart.

    OMG
    OMG
    14 years ago

    Let Intel move to places where they are welcomed, no need to be there, and then we could chase every good job from the haredi communities, let them figure out how they will feed their families

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    yet another chilul hashem…shame on israeli charadim!!! so intel will close and 1000’s of yidden will loose jobs,,,whats the point?? backwardness!!

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    I’m sorry i’m frum and im embarresed from these protesters their doing just the opposite of what hashem wants
    where r their Rebbes what did they go crasy as well???

    right & wrong
    right & wrong
    14 years ago

    They were right to protest. They should be mocheh a blatanat chillul shabbos. I don’t know, however, what the heter was to throw gravel or damage a door on Shabbos. They shouldve stayed calm.

    lishma
    lishma
    14 years ago

    this demonstration is legalized insanity they have it so good that they dont know what to do anymore with their freedom so they go nuts they try to impose their way of life on others if things go as they do they will become like the muhlahs of iran tottal dictatorship with anarchy shame on us

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    Why throw gravel at the reporters? Obviously if they are protesting, they want publicity for their cause — that’s the point of holding a large demonstration. Now, they just make themselves look like angry, mean-spirited ugly people.

    So much for peaceful protest.
    So much for peaceful protest.
    14 years ago

    Mazikim! Once again they proved that they are uncivilized animals. Just like PETA cares more about animals than humans these guys care more about looking frum than actually keeping the Torah and respecting another person and their property. Chillel Hashem means nothing to these ignoramuses!

    yoelg
    yoelg
    14 years ago

    I am a secular but a law is a law, the charidim are right if jerusilam is a jewish state the intel firm MUST be close on shabbs, in india or china nobody will protest

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    I’m proud of them, they have every right to protest! As a free country and as Jews! And if anyone doesn’t like protesting go to an Arab country! There is no reason we shouldn’t protect our Gift, especially if it is dear to you! And look, it works!!! They may close it, and that’s democracy. And trust me its not the govt nor INTEL which supports people. Don’t lose your faith because INTEL is NOT the one who is in charge

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    To all you dinah demalchusa peolpe:
    Isn’t INTEL breaking the law?
    Why are you so busy with the chareidim? Intel is also breaking Hashems laws.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    give back isreal to the arabs, if we dont keep shabbs what’s the point?

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    The Chilul Hashem that is being done by the Charadi protesters in Yerushulaim not only does not have an effect whatsoever but it brings hatred toward Heimishe Chradi people all over the world.Ask the Toldos Avrihom Yitzchak Rebbe about the reception that he got in Lawrence last week because of the protests and Chillul Hashem this past summer…

    Simcha
    Simcha
    14 years ago

    I think the people at Intel should have thrown stones at the behemos to give them a taste of their own medicine. Great idea, drive vital industry out of the country.

    Tora'dig
    Tora'dig
    14 years ago

    My dear friends! since Hashem gave is a Torah on mount Sinai (sounds familiar?) and chazal have written shas and then the Shulchan oruch, the Torah and halacha is binding us, nothing else, and the Rabbonim are the ones to tell us if its kidush hashem or a chilul.
    Any comments or blogs are irrellavent when it come to torah or halacha, only and only the rabbonim are competent to tell us what to do. period.

    Yerushalayim United
    Yerushalayim United
    14 years ago

    Just to note, at this protest it was obvious that the crowd was much more mixed, there were more “Hamodia” type of people thand “Eidah” kind.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    I am not saying whether it is right or wrong for them to be open! There are hospitals that need their technology and the army to defend you so you cannot complain entirely!! Last week the charedim were complaining that they could not get jobs!! Would you blame Intel for hiring them after what just happened?? Now they might be very biased against charedi people in general even if the person male or female had excellent references!! They give good benefits ! etc. Why do you shoot the goose that lays the golden eggs? You should be thankful Intel is in Jerusalem and not want it out!! It employs over 1,000 people!! Do you want your friends and neighbors to lose their jobs!! You cannot rely on a government paycheck!! If you do then you are a fool!! Wake up and smell the roses!! I hope VIN posts this!

    Yerushalmi
    Yerushalmi
    14 years ago

    Raboisai! while the protest was in motion there was no gravel or stones thrown at anybody, this is lie and lie!
    As an eye witness I can attest to that.
    Whatever happened in some isolated corner, afterwards or blocks away when some bored individuals (usually shabavnik’s or strret bums) or if they argued with journalists for their fun, has nothing to do with the thousands of peaceful protesters, we all behaved like real mentchen and it was a real kiddush Hashem.

    frum but normal
    frum but normal
    14 years ago

    giving in to mob rule is always a bad idea,even if the mob consists of so called chareidim,israel should once and for all crack down hard at these hoodlums.
    they must be made to understand that israel is a democracy where 80% of the jews are not religious,and nobody has the right to force his religious beliefs down anyones throat,it is absolutely not your business if someone keeps shabbos or not,
    how would we like it if here in america or in other christian countries, non jews would riot and burn down jewish stores for working on their holy day [sunday]?
    of course we would scream bloody murder,we would scream antisemitism,we would run to the courts, to the UN.
    and another thing,here in NY we have millions of jews who desecrate the shabbos
    have open stores and factories working on shabbos,how come nobody is rioting
    and forcing them to close? is shmirras shabbos only a commandment in eretz yisroel?

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    In addition ot the Shabbos desicration, what I don’t understand is the Medina’s subsidizing of Intel’s manufacturing in Eretz Yisrael with Billions of Dollars in financial subsidies. Also, the manufacturing process in Kiryat Gat requires millions of gallons of water per day and results in massive water pollution. I thought given the scarcity of water in Eretz Yisrael, this type of production would be unfreasible. Why is the Medina and the poor of Israel subsidizing Intel given that it begs for billions and in return pollutes the aquifers and only benefits a few government elite and Intel shareholders? Vus d’Pshat?

    Chaim Braun
    Chaim Braun
    14 years ago

    Intel will not leave for such an incident.
    They should close.
    It is with in their own international protocol to be friendly and support their environment and neighborhood they operate.
    They will only damage their own reputation by being open on shabbes!

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    fyi the owner of intel is a jew

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    How come they are not in china? However yerushalayim has to be clean from chillul shabbos

    erliche yid
    erliche yid
    14 years ago

    To all negative commenters. Why does chillel hashem bother you more than chillul shabbes? Let me tell you that its not the chillel hashem that bothers you, it bothers you all that the chareidim are standing up & telling others what the torah wants you to do. Deep inside youself you all feel scared that since you know that your not so erlich & frum that most yeshalyimer erlicher people, so you feel that their existance tells you that your not good & you have to get better. So if you have a good excuse to scream you found der bashefer to hang it on to him. Stop saying that they are bolonyan you all with your ways of commenting & your lifestyle the way you keep the mitzvos with compromising here & there is one piece of hipocritisim. So don’t come up & say that those erliche yiden who chillel shabbes realy pains them (not all of them), those live a life devoted to hashem without compromising, they fear to do an ovireh, sit & learn & do Hashems will, that they are making chillul Hashem.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    Ashrecho yisroel!!
    Keep on following the torah, fight for the kedushas shabos. don’t get turned down by secularist comments and by people that have nothing with torah and shabos

    Zg49
    Zg49
    14 years ago

    I am surprised that there were only a few thousand protesting. One doesn’t have to be a fanatic to go out and protect the Holy Shabbos. For those of you saying ‘mind your own business’ just imagine a friend of yours or family member that slips away from yiddishkiet, that hurts. Now imagine this friend coming to shul or your home and light up a cigarette, would you still say ‘not my business’ or would you tell him to get out of your home or shul immediately. Yerushalaim is Hashem’s home, it is our home too, when people desecrate shabbos in your home it hurts and when it really hurts you don’t sit on the side quietly you YELL !

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    the issue is not that some want to work on shabbos and others believe it is not appropriate in accoradnce with daas torah and halahca. Ther real issue is those who are under the delusion that all yidden in EY must live in accordancw with halacah. Who said so. Yidden should feel fortunate that the government seeks to accomondate yiddeshe observance wherever possbile but EY is a democratic society with freedom of religion. You don’t hae to be a shomer shabbos if you don’t want to. The President, Prime Minister and a marjority of the MPSs in the Kennese are not shomer shabbos so why do these idiots believe that Intel should ot allowed to operate on shabbos.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    I’m am an ameirican chairdi I don’t feel any connection to this protesters.

    wailling wall
    wailling wall
    14 years ago

    Its amazing how the secular media portrays the Chareidim. I was by the protest (i also got mased for doing notging) there were maybe TWENTY thousand 20,000 people not TWO thousand 2,000. I spoke to friends who were also there and was told that there were way way more then two thousand. the saddest part is that the media was only there in the begining untill they were chased away. they admit this themselfs. If this is the case how can they know the amount. The Gedolim said to go protest so we did. Intel is far from many Chareidim but they stil went. this protest was called by Gedolim across the board including the posek hador Maran Harav Eliyashiv shlita.

    frum but normal
    frum but normal
    14 years ago

    this article by Hanoch Daum a religious writer in israel,hits the nail right on the head,and i agree with him 1 million percent
    The truth must be told: The fundamental motivation behind ultra-Orthodox protests on Shabbat, regardless of whether they are directed against Intel, the Karta parking lot, or anything else is deep boredom, incredible emptiness, and the great frustration of haredi youngsters. These protests are not about love for the Shabbat.
    Hundreds of energized young haredim are looking for something to do; looking for something interesting. They have no e-mail, no Facebook, and no place where they can play soccer. They don’t join the army and most of them will never work
    Long years at the yeshiva, from a very young age, where studies begin early in the morning and end very late at night, prompt great frustration among many of them – and especially those unfit for such a demanding course .
    and lets face it very few of them are real learners,and most of them don’t open a sefer all day long and are bored out of their minds,and the result is hooliganism
    and riots and destruction,reminds me of the black riots here in the US in the early 60’s