November 17, 2009

Intel targeted in Jerusalem’s Sabbath wars


by Sara Levy

Ultra-Orthodox Jews raided Intel offices in Jerusalem this weekend in protest at the chip maker staying open on the Sabbath.

Some 1,500 protesters gathered outside the offices on Saturday chanting “Shabbes! Shabbes!”, the Yiddish word for Sabbath.

Before the protest, Intel ringed its offices with barbed wire.

A number of protesters broke into the offices’ synagogue, threw prayer books on the floor, and used prayer stands to break down doors.

Journalists covering the protest had rocks hurled at them by the protesters.

Under Jewish law, Jews are forbidden to work on Saturday, the Jewish Sabbath.

Intel defends its decision to open on the Sabbath as it has always done so.

“We have always worked according to the company’s needs,” a spokesperson for Intel Israel said.

“If the needs call for it, we work on the Sabbath as well.”

In recent months Jerusalem’s ultra-Orthodox Jewish community have become increasingly vocal in their requests to ban Saturday work in Jerusalem.

They have held regular protests – sometimes sparking into violence – against a Jerusalem car park opening on Saturdays.

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