Israel's public employees prepare to strike over the government's budget cuts: The Histadrut labor federation on Monday announced it will launch a strike in the local authorities due to unresolved financial crises within the councils and the fact that many public employees have not received salaries. The strike action is likely to start on September 1, the end of the 14-day cooling-off period mandated by law. The strike could affect the start of the school year; although teachers will not be involved in the strike, it may include auxiliary school staff such as secretaries, cleaners, drivers and teaching assistants. The labor federation decided earlier Monday to delay by several days any announcement on a strike over the 2005 budget, which was approved by the cabinet in the early hours of the morning and includes salary cuts and dismissals for public-sector workers. "I call on Finance Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to enter into negotiations with us on the implications of the state budget for public sector workers," said Trade Union leader Shlomo Shani on Monday. "A strike is our last resort."