Labor votes to protest 2008 state budget

Labor's ministers decided on Thursday to demand changes in the 2008 state budget ahead of Sunday's cabinet vote. They said they were angry that they were being asked to vote on 370 clauses without enough time to study them. Responding to criticism from former Labor chairman Amir Peretz, the ministers decided to demand an immediate rise in the minimum wage. Other factions in the coalition have also given Finance Minister Ronnie Bar-On lists of demands.