Yaakov Rivlin, hareidi journalist, spoke with Arutz-7 today about the fact that the hareidi parties are not in the government: "Sharon simply knifed the hareidi public in the back. He did not pull any complicated or clever political tricks against them, but just simply left them out." Rivlin said that it was "political treachery" on Sharon's part, because "two years ago, when Netanyahu said he would not run for Prime Minister unless the Knesset was disbanded, Shas went with Sharon in not disbanding the Knesset." It was pointed out, however, that Shas did this out of its own self-interest, and that in any event Sharon had his ups and downs with Shas afterwards.
Regarding United Torah Judaism, Rivlin said that its relations with Sharon "were fine, except for the Halpert Bill, in which UTJ attempted to benefit its voters by enabling them to receive increased allowances for large families." Rivlin admitted that the hareidi parties erred in bringing this bill for a vote, "though this is not the reason why Sharon left them out." He said that the hareidi public has not yet digested the full significance of the fact that its representatives will not be in the government, including cuts in "child allowances, support for kollel scholars, help to the hareidi towns - which will be affected by Shinui's control of the Interior Ministry, and more."
Regarding United Torah Judaism, Rivlin said that its relations with Sharon "were fine, except for the Halpert Bill, in which UTJ attempted to benefit its voters by enabling them to receive increased allowances for large families." Rivlin admitted that the hareidi parties erred in bringing this bill for a vote, "though this is not the reason why Sharon left them out." He said that the hareidi public has not yet digested the full significance of the fact that its representatives will not be in the government, including cuts in "child allowances, support for kollel scholars, help to the hareidi towns - which will be affected by Shinui's control of the Interior Ministry, and more."