INTEL, the world’s biggest maker of computer chips, said it would consider stopping production in Israel if ultra-Orthodox Jews continue their protests against the company operating on Saturdays.
Ultra-Orthodox Jewish men protest against the the opening of a car park on Saturdays in Jerusalem (AP Photo / Tsafrir Abayov)
The BBC quotes Maxine Fassberg, general manager of Intel Israel:
If there are continued protests or delays in manufacturing at the Jerusalem plant, the company will be forced to close it and may also decide to leave Israel in the end.
Intel has been operating on Saturdays for years – and the company defends the policy. Intel Israel spokesman Kobi Becker said:
We have always worked according to the company’s needs. If the needs call for it, we work on the Sabbath as well.
According to this report, more than 1,000 ultra-Orthodox demonstrators gathered outside Intel’s Jerusalem compound yesterday.
Earlier dozens had attacked Jerusalem’s deputy mayor Yitzhak Pindrus, claiming that he had not done enough to prevent Intel from opening its plant and employing workers there on Saturdays.
Some protesters were hurt after security personnel sprayed pepper spray in their faces. Others hurled stones at and pushed journalists who were present at the scene.
Ultra-Orthodox protesters have previously rallied against the opening of public parking lots in Jerusalem on Saturdays. Those protests, which have continued on a near-weekly basis for months, often turn violent and end with clashes between police and protesters.
The Freethinker was founded in 1881 by GW Foote, an outspoken critic of religion. After the publication of 
November 15th, 2009 at 11:05 am
Are spectacles a simple form of machine?
Because if so – shouldn’t this gang of stupid, backward, lazy, bone idle, welfare sponging, fashion disaster haircut wearing, unshaven, intolerant screaming wankers take their glasses off and STFU?
And even if their magic book says they can wear specs on the sabbath (but not use lightswitches ffs) then what the hell are they doing outside protesting on the sabbath anyway – They should be at home doing fuck all – apparently an art they practise for the rest of the week too.
November 15th, 2009 at 11:34 am
YHWH must be extremely stupid if He chose a nation of screaming lunatics like these to represent His interests on Earth.
November 15th, 2009 at 12:13 pm
As usual these people can’t just quietly get on with practicing and ovserving their religion and leave everyone else in peace. They see themselves as having a mandate from their imaginary god to insist that everyone else is just as loopy as they are. It is hardly surprising that encounters with these people often end in violence, if they were getting in my face while I was going about my normal everyday business I think that I may be tempted to give them a kicking.
November 15th, 2009 at 12:32 pm
I wonder how the Jews got the the demonstration. Surely they used some kind of transport such as a car which requires igniting fire.
@Shargraves: It could be argued that putting on glasses is applying the finishing touch to corrective vision which would go against forbidden activity #38, as would giving their beards a morning trim.
November 15th, 2009 at 1:18 pm
“Are spectacles a simple form of machine?”
The human body is a machine, converting chemical energy to kinetic energy.
Even if you stay at home and do nothing, the heart is literally a powered pump.
November 15th, 2009 at 2:08 pm
Judging from these three characters, the glasses as evidence that one old myth might be true after all. It really does make you blind.
November 15th, 2009 at 3:21 pm
It’s enough to make your hair curl, Ivan!
November 15th, 2009 at 6:10 pm
@barryjohn
That would be the hair on the palms of the hands, I presume.
November 15th, 2009 at 7:31 pm
When asked “how their protests were doing?”.They each replied “it’s like talking to a friggin wall”!
November 15th, 2009 at 7:37 pm
What do yo care what the Jews dress and how they look like?!
God chose them and then he chose us. Any way, Jews are the smarter people on earth.
Insha Allah !!!!
November 15th, 2009 at 8:19 pm
The claim that the Jews are the smartest people on earth can be supported by citing a great many Jewish high achievers. Unfortunately they also have quite a few low achievers as demonstrated here.
November 15th, 2009 at 8:54 pm
http://www.channel4.com/progra.....od#3007068
If you did not catch the above program it is worth a look it if streaming on 4oD.
November 15th, 2009 at 9:34 pm
off topic, but there is a new intelligence^2 debate scheduled.
http://www.intelligencesquared.....nt=EVT0204
Atheism is the new fundamentalism:
Speakers for the motion:
Richard Harries Former Bishop of Oxford.
Charles Moore Former editor of the Daily Telegraph and The Spectator.
Speakers against the motion:
Richard Dawkins Professor Emeritus at Oxford University and best-selling author of ‘The God Delusion’.
A C Grayling Professor of Philosophy at the University of London.
Fight, Fight, Fight!
November 16th, 2009 at 1:17 am
Again, off topic, but this debate might be food for thought; if you have not seen it it is worth a look.
http://lifewithoutfaith.com/?p=477
November 16th, 2009 at 2:48 am
There exists a serious(?) proposal to partition Israel into two states, one secular and the other (“Judaea”) religious. It would be brilliant to watch those iron age freaks try to fend for themselves without secular Israelis to defend them or maintain a modern state for their benefit.
November 16th, 2009 at 4:12 am
Fundamentalists are all alike -Jews-Xtians-islamic-hindu- in the fact that they super exaggerate any HOLEY text to justify their delusional behavior which is geared not to holey but to political power and manipulation.
November 16th, 2009 at 9:39 am
That bloke in the middle of the photo is really cool. He’s only begging for the caption:
November 16th, 2009 at 10:16 pm
@ Shargraves
Well said!
@ David McNerney
Not sure about him being cool but thanks for reminding me of that brilliant sketch from that great film!
@ Abdallah
WANKER!!