Last night was supposed to be the final deadline for towns that have yet to pass the 2019 budget to do so. Failing to do so at the June 30 dealine would mean dispersal of the City Council, the mayor heading to a disciplinary hearing to ensure that he truly put forth his best efforts to pass the budget, and consideration for removal with the appointment of a ruling committee to run the city.

There are five cities/towns in Israel that were at risk last night of failing to meet the deadline. The only interesting one is Tiberias. The others are not in the news because they seem to be boring, though I am sure if I looked for the info about them it is probably available. Tiberias is interesting because its mayor is Ron Kubi. Kubi has been a loudmouth, especially against the Haredi politicians, with mixed results in Tiberias, though he has not been able to form a local coalition or pass a budget with the other parties, besides for his own, basically refusing to work with him (they blame him for not making any efforts to pass a fair budget and to deal properly with the needs of the city). Besides for that they have basically decided to hold strong against Kubi and not allow him to pass the budget in the hope that this will eventually lead to his removal.

Last night Kubi was to host a final attempt to pass the budget. Minister of Interior Aryeh Deri announced that he is giving the affected towns an extra two weeks extension to pass the budget.

That means that Deri, who has been regularly attacked by Kubi, essentially saved Kubi's job for now. Kubi, and the other mayors, has another two weeks to try to get one more vote to pass the budget.

The haredi media are all a bit shocked the Deri saved Kubi's neck, after Kubi has incessantly attacked Deri. Personally I think it was a good move by Deri. For Deri to remove him without a public uproar and visuals of a conflict of interest, it has to appear completely justified and on the up and up. Deri cannot appear in the slightest to be taking revenge on Kubi or to have a dislike for Kubi as the cause.

By giving Kubi the extra two weeks (after the previous extensions came due), which anyways he can be pretty sure will not help, he is showing that he is not biased and has done everything possible to give Kubi a fair chance and enough time to pass the budget. If Kubi still remains unsuccessful, if Deri should choose to remove him from office, he will be able to do so with relatively clean hands and the removal will look as justified as it actually will be.

Deri is no dummy.