The talk in some of the weekend papers, and all over the Haredi radio stations this morning, was about the possibility of lowering the budgets allocated for Haredi demands.

With the new budget being prepared, the Finance Minister is saying that the budgets designated for the Haredi sector, as per the coalition agreements, are too high and he refuses to increase the deficit. Allowing the budget promises to remain as they are will not allow him to benefit the broader public with reforms, but he would have to raise taxes. The Haredi parties are obviously standing their ground and insisting their agreements be fulfilled as promised.

I have to say, I am with the Haredi parties on this.

All the agreements were approved by the Finance Ministry. To throw the blame for budget problems on the Haredi parties now is unreasonable and deceptive. Why did they approve it a few months ago and now feel they have to cut it? Agreements should be honored. Perhaps Netanyahu should not have been so quick to agree to everything they demanded, and perhaps the Finance Ministry shouldn't have been so willing to approve the agreements in advance. Once agreed to, they should be honored.