Israel's Haaretz paper strikes over layoffs

JERUSALEM -- Workers at Israel's respected Haaretz newspaper have begun a strike to protest layoffs.

The workers said Wednesday that they would not update the Haaretz website until midnight and will not publish the next day's paper.

The issue is the planned dismissal of about 100 employees.

Haaretz has a relatively small circulation, but it is an influential daily popular with Israel's elite.

Last month Israel's veteran Maariv paper was sold by its cash-strapped owner to a rival publisher. Most of its 2,000 employees will probably be laid off.

Hundreds of Maariv workers and supporters marched in Jerusalem earlier Wednesday, urging the government to intervene to help the industry crisis.