Intel’s support of Israel protested at Chandler campus

As the Israel-Hamas war has raged on since the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel, pressure has been mounting on the United States government for its continued funding toward the country and its military. Similar pressure is starting to befall American companies that are involved with Israel.

Israel is the largest cumulative recipient of U.S. aid since 1946, receiving more than $300 billion, with much of it going toward Israel’s military, according to the Council on Foreign Relations. The U.S. has continued to support Israel since the war began, as it has made two foreign military sales to Israel that have been made public: a $106 million investment of tank ammunition and a $147.5 million investment toward components needed to make 155 mm shells.

In the six months since the start of the war, 30,000 Palestinians have reportedly been killed, and more than 360,000 buildings have been leveled, according to the Ministry of Health. President Joe Biden and the U.S. have faced increasing pressure from both politicians and civilians to change their course on their support and funding of the war.

That same pressure is being felt by American companies with facilities in Israel. One is Intel, one of the world’s largest semiconductor chip and computer hardware manufacturers headquartered in Santa Barbara, California.

How has Intel supported Israel?

Similar to the U.S., Intel has deep roots within Israel, dating back more than 50 years. The first Intel development center in Israel was built in Haifa in 1974, marking the first Intel center to be built outside of the U.S. The tech company now has three development centers in Haifa, Petah Tikva, and Jerusalem, as well as a manufacturing facility in Kiryat Gat.

Intel reports that it has 11,700 employees working in Israel and 42,000 more through indirect employment. It is one of the largest companies in Israel’s market, garnering over $8.7 billion in exports as of 2022, representing 5.5% of hi-tech exports from Israel and 1.75% of the country’s GDP.

Intel has reported investments of more than $50 billion into its facilities in Israel, and its procurements in the country total more than $25.2 billion.

Has Intel changed its stance since the start of the Israel-Hamas war?

Intel’s CEO Pat Gelsinger went on a Fox Sports Business broadcast on Dec. 23, 2023, to address the Israel-Hamas war and his company’s involvement in Israel. In the broadcast, he expressed a strong solidarity with Israel.

“For almost 50 years, we were the first company to start the tech nation there,” Gelsinger said. “I was just on the phone, yesterday, with Isaac Herzog, the president of the country. This is a resilient people. We will support them. We believe so deeply in what they’ve done.”

Gelsinger also noted that despite his company being devoted to its business in Israel, he is in support of a quick and peaceful resolution to the war.

“We’re also supporting the humanitarian efforts across the region as well,” Gelsinger said. “We pray for peace to come quickly to the region and a more permanent solution because this isn’t a new problem. This is thousands of years in the making, but we are deeply committed to our operations (there).”

Three days later, on Dec. 26, Israel’s Ministry of Finance announced that a $25 billion chip manufacturing plant from Intel was approved to be built in Kiryat Gat, in addition to the factory that’s already there.

The tech company received a $3.2 billion grant for the expansion. Intel planned to start operations by 2028 and continue until at least 2035. In a news release on Monday, Intel announced that construction of the plant is underway.

Protesters speak out against Intel’s involvement in Israel

On Monday, a 15-hour-long protest was organized outside of Intel’s campus in Chandler. This is related to the boycott campaign against Intel that was started by the Palestinian-led Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS), which gained traction for having a lawsuit against them from McDonald’s Malaysia that was later dropped.

When asked to comment on the protests and boycotts against the company, an Intel representative issued a statement saying, “Intel respects the rights of individuals to peacefully express their views, including our employees.”

Around 20 people gathered Monday morning, with participants going to and from the protest, which began at 6 a.m., as the day wore on. Protesters said they planned to stay until 9 p.m.

The protesters stood on each of the four street corners off Intel Way and West Chandler Boulevard, waving Palestinian flags and signs at drivers as they passed by. Many of the signs criticized the company and industry as a whole, reading phrases such as “no tech for apartheid,” “Big tech supports genocide,” “Intel has blood on their hands,” and more.

Megan Johnson was one of the protesters advocating against Intel. She said she feels like it is her duty as a U.S. citizen to stand up for the people suffering in Gaza.

“This is a horrible, horrible relationship between the United States and Israel that is causing so much damage to so many people around the world,” Johnson said.

“It’s just time to divest from companies like Intel that supply their products to Israel to fight this and also to divest from the U.S.”

Johnson is also protesting against the U.S. by refusing to pay her taxes, as she said she won’t stand for what they are being funded toward.

“This is Tax Day, and it’s important to understand that your tax dollars are going to fund a genocide right now, killing hundreds of thousands of women and children, men, everyone,” Johnson said.

Marina Thomas, another protester, said she hopes the demonstration will encourage people to educate themselves about the conflict.

“(Our goal is) to just touch people’s humanity and kind of be in their face about it in real life because I know we see things through the news,” Thomas said. “But I think just being here and showing them to their face that we care, maybe they’ll educate themselves about what’s going on.”

Thomas said the reaction from passersby has been a combination of support and disdain.

“It’s a mix,” she Thomas said. “There’s people that are coming by and honking and waving at us and (putting their) thumbs up.

Some people have been vulgar or aggressive, she said.

Demonstrator Emily Rios said she has a Palestinian husband and a halfPalestinian child. She said she couldn’t stand to see Palestinians painted as villains in this conflict and thinks that there should be more love and empathy spread to those suffering.

“I’m really passionate because I look at (my child) and I would cry,” Rios said. “I get really emotional because a lot of those dead kids look like her.

“I see her face in their faces, and I’ve just been out here advocating for them because it’s awful what they’re painting Palestinians as, like terrorists and terrible people. It’s not true. They’re very loving. They’re just like you and me.”

“... it’s awful what they’re painting Palestinians as, like terrorists and terrible people. It’s not true. They’re very loving. They’re just like you and me.”

Emily Rio

Demonstrator against Intel’s support of Israel