MK Tzvi Hauser (Derech Eretz) has aimed sharp criticism at both the Likud and Blue & White parties at today's meeting of the Knesset's Finance Committee, during which legislation he proposed to postpone the final date by which the state budget must be passed is being discussed. If the legislation does not pass in the Knesset, the final date by which a budget must be passed is in just five days' time.If the parties fail to reach an agreement, there is a real danger that the government will collapse, leading to elections."Just five days are left, you lunatics," Hauser told committee members. "Get off your high horses and stop risking the destruction of the country."

Group of pro-Palestinian Authority activists promises to continue breaking law in efforts to harm Israeli company Elbit.

Firefighters called to a home In Sorotzkin Street in Jerusalem this morning found a toddler hanging from between the railings of a fifth-floor balcony, and succeeded in rescuing him.The toddler had somehow slipped his entire body, except his head, through the railings, and when his head did not fit, he remained suspended in the air, five stories above the ground.

"The Likud party must have turned into the Shas or UTJ party," MK Avigdor Liberman stated this morning, "otherwise it's impossible to understand why it's so urgent for MK Miki Zohar to guarantee a budget for the yeshivas during this period of economic crisis."Liberman added that, "The money should go first of all to the unemployed, the self-employed, owners of small businesses who are in danger of collapsing, students, and to programs for at-risk youth."

Police have arrested a suspect in the case of an arson attack In a car lot in Givat Hamatos in Jerusalem, which caused damage to 13 vehicles.The suspect is a man in his forties who is a resident of east Jerusalem. He is being accused of setting fire to Ine of the vehicles in the lot, which then spread to additional vehicles. He then allegedly fled from the scene. Evidence linking him to the crime was found in his home yesterday, following which he was arrested.

Coalition head MK Miki Zohar (Likud) has ignited a storm of controversy in today's meeting of the Knesset Finance Committee, by demanding the inclusion of several new clauses into legislation for postponing the final date by which the state budget must be passed.One of his demands is that the legislation include a budgeting flexibility of five percent in order to deal with emergencies, if necessary. He is also demanding funding for programs for at-risk youth that are in danger of collapsing due to the Ingoing failure to pass a budget, and for programs for the Religious-Zionist sector that have been frozen for the same reason. Zohar also wants NIS 400 million to be granted to the yeshivas as part of their budget allowance which would have already been transferred to them if the budget had been passed.

According to a report In Kan News, a man of Iraqi origin has caused three separate traffic collisions in Berlin, Germany's capital.The incidents occurred In an Autobahn and led to the injuries of six people. At Ine point during his driving spree, the driver apparently exited his vehicle and yelled, "Allahu Akbar." In his vehicle was found a suspicious box, and anyone who passed by was told, "Come any closer and you'll die."

The standardization commissioner at the Ministry of Economy and Industry, Yaakov Wechtel, has warned parents and teaching staff of the danger posed to small children by magnetic rings, which are sold in a variety of colors and in several sizes. If swallowed, these items can cause suffocation, intestinal obstruction, and damage to the digestive system and functioning of internal organs.Seven imported models of magnetic rings were rejected by the Standards Commission since the products did not meet safety requirements - it was found that the magnetic force in the inner parts of the rings exceeded that stipulated in the regulations.