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> They are likely to get a lot of government help. Indeed -- the not so subtle subtext of their pitch is "China, eh? Have fun with that.". So a pitch based on

> They are likely to get a lot of government help. Indeed -- the not so subtle subtext of their pitch is "China, eh? Have fun with that.". So a pitch based on the idea that it's strategically important to bring that chip manufacturing "home". Which is why they picked Israel. /s

ChrisMarshallNY 5y ago
> Which is why they picked Israel. Well, there's a lot of history in that relationship. Israel really does have some of the finest scientists and engineers in the world -partly thanks to the antisemitism of a lot of other nations. I have a feeling that Israel (and Iran) have the potential to completely transform the Mideast, but all that fighting is keeping that from happening. If they ever started to work in cooperation with some of their neighbors, we'd see a new power bloc emerge. If they ever actually have a real, lasting peace, out there, the rest of the world had better hang on, as every single one of those nations would love to not have to be dependent on some superpower.
- unfocussed_mike 5y ago
  Yes. I guess what I meant is that there could be an element of the strategic in the choice, particularly for a business that seeks government money in the near future if the US House of Representatives does swing back to GOP control. Though Tower Semi are clearly enormously capable, so it's hardly a bad acquisition, even absent seeking access to a pot of money with a strategic aspect to it.
- recuter 5y ago
  > I have a feeling that Israel (and Iran) have the potential to completely transform the Mideast, but all that fighting is keeping that from happening. If they ever started to work in cooperation with some of their neighbors, we'd see a new power bloc emerge. That's exactly what is happening. The emerging power block in the Middle East is Israel+Arab States vs Iran with Turkey playing its own game. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_Accords https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_Accords An Ayatollah free Iran has huge potential, very true. There are reasons for cautious optimism. None of this has anything to do with Intel/Tower however. The Intel presence in Israel goes back generations and Tower is a cheap and obvious pickup for them.
- yyyk 5y ago
  >Well, there's a lot of history in that relationship. The Israel branch basically saved Intel when NetBurst failed completely - at the time Intel was behind as much as today.

ChrisMarshallNY 5y ago

> Which is why they picked Israel. Well, there's a lot of history in that relationship. Israel really does have some of the finest scientists and engineers in the world -partly thanks to the antisemitism of a lot of other nations. I have a feeling that Israel (and Iran) have the potential to completely transform the Mideast, but all that fighting is keeping that from happening. If they ever started to work in cooperation with some of their neighbors, we'd see a new power bloc emerge. If they ever actually have a real, lasting peace, out there, the rest of the world had better hang on, as every single one of those nations would love to not have to be dependent on some superpower.

unfocussed_mike 5y ago
Yes. I guess what I meant is that there could be an element of the strategic in the choice, particularly for a business that seeks government money in the near future if the US House of Representatives does swing back to GOP control. Though Tower Semi are clearly enormously capable, so it's hardly a bad acquisition, even absent seeking access to a pot of money with a strategic aspect to it.
recuter 5y ago
> I have a feeling that Israel (and Iran) have the potential to completely transform the Mideast, but all that fighting is keeping that from happening. If they ever started to work in cooperation with some of their neighbors, we'd see a new power bloc emerge. That's exactly what is happening. The emerging power block in the Middle East is Israel+Arab States vs Iran with Turkey playing its own game. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_Accords https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_Accords An Ayatollah free Iran has huge potential, very true. There are reasons for cautious optimism. None of this has anything to do with Intel/Tower however. The Intel presence in Israel goes back generations and Tower is a cheap and obvious pickup for them.
yyyk 5y ago
>Well, there's a lot of history in that relationship. The Israel branch basically saved Intel when NetBurst failed completely - at the time Intel was behind as much as today.