Israeli parliament approves budget cut

JERUSALEM, March 29 (UPI) -- Israel's parliamentary finance committee Monday approved a government decision to slash about $1.06 billion across-the-board from its 2004 budget.

The cuts will affect all government offices, although the newly approved budget includes cash increases for education, financially-strapped local authorities, social services and healthcare, the Ha'aretz news service reported.

The new budget also includes an allocation of about $24 million to pay the salaries of local authority and religious council workers who have not received their wages in months.