News Brief

(IsraelNN.com) Recently appointed Immigration Minister Ya'akov Edry (Kadima) said he will fight against proposed government budget cuts that would cancel financial assistance to scientists immigrating to Israel and would reduce financial aid to other olim (immigrants).

"The cuts are a mortal blow to help for olim," ministry director general Erez Halphon told the Hebrew newspaper Yediot Aharonot. The proposed slice in the budget also would cut the subsidy for ulpan courses that teach Hebrew to new immigrants.