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Metacafe, diamond firms downsizing, Proxy closes down By Guy Grimland, Orr Hirschauge and Ora Coren Tags: Metacafe, Israel News Yet more layoffs were reported yesterday, ranging from high tech to low. In its second round of downsizing within months, Metacafe is firing 11 workers in Israel and three to five U.S. employees. A source in the know said that the community video-sharing site shut down its 5-man customer support department entirely yesterday morning. A separate source in the company confirmed the report, and added that preparations are being made for more cuts in its development graphics departments. Metacafe CEO Yoram Finkel said the steps came in response to current economic conditions. but, he added, it isn't short of money. Meanwhile, the trouble at Proxy Software Systems is worse. Proxy, established in 1996 by two former Motorola Israel workers, sent all of its 40 workers home yesterday and closed its doors. Advertisement Proxy had supplied outsourcing services for communications, voice and video systems. Neighbors of the company's premises said that Proxy's entire workforce had been informed of the move on Monday, and by yesterday its doors were locked. Sources in the industry noted that the company's ongoing projects are being passed on to other firms. Attempts to obtain comments by the firm's senior management were unsuccessful: it is not known whether the workers have received their salaries, or whether the company has other outstanding obligations to its customers and suppliers. Nor is the local diamond industry immune to the crisis, as demand declines, pulling down the price of polished stones. Sources in the Israeli diamond industry say that production has been cut in recent weeks, and that 200 to 250 workers in the industry that employs 15,000 persons have been sent home. Bookmark to del.icio.us   A ringing endorsement Jimmy Carter says Obama will waste no time in pursuing Middle East peace. Peres' olive branch Israel's president says the Arab peace plan is an opening for progress.

Read & React Nasrallah: Israeli hands that attack Lebanon will be severed Responses: 115 Mortars and rockets hit Negev, after deadly IDF raid near Gaza Responses: 102 Carlo Strenger: Why Barack Obama's win is 'good' for the Jews Responses: 72 Carter: Obama will waste no time pursuing Middle East peace Responses: 73 Amir Oren: A Netanyahu win will put us on collision course with Obama Responses: 64 More Headlines 23:10 Peres: Arab peace plan - a serious opening for real progress 23:16 Mortars and rockets hit Negev, after deadly IDF raid near Gaza 22:17 Israel to allow limited amount of fuel and aid into Gaza on Thurs. 23:19 Syria: IAF to blame for uranium traces at suspected nukes site 22:23 Carter: Obama will waste no time pursuing Middle East peace 21:19 Olmert decries 'deliberate and insufferable' discrimination of Arabs 20:07 High Court orders Beit El to stop building on private Arab land 23:26 Iran says it test fired new surface-to-surface missile capable of hitting Israel 03:24 Footage emerges of Obama poking fun at 'foul-mouthed' Rahm Emanuel 17:13 Netanyahu: For sake of peace, Israel must aid Palestinian economy 14:11 IDF soldier jailed for yawning during Rabin memorial service 01:24 Who's your mayor? A look at the results of the '08 mayoral races 21:41 Report: Egypt, Israel failed to respect basic asylum procedures 20:59 Berlin student damage Holocaust exhibit during rally against school system 21:09 Three Czech youth suspected of attacking Jewish man in Prague Previous Editions Select Day 12 nov 11 nov 10 nov 09 nov 07 nov 06 nov 05 nov 04 nov 03 nov 02 nov 31 oct 30 oct

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