Lawmakers voted 61-57 on Wednesday to elect Netanyahu\u2019s personal lawyer, Michael Rabello, as state comptroller in a controversial do-over vote marred by accusations that illegal pressure on Likud MKs to record their votes and prove they hadn\u2019t turned on the premier tainted<\/a> the election.<\/p>\n \n\t\t\tGet The Times of Israel’s Daily Edition \t\t\t\tBy signing up, you agree to the terms<\/a><\/p>\n Retired Supreme Court justice Yosef Elron had come out ahead in the first round, falling just one vote short of the 61 votes needed for victory in the 120-member parliament, meaning that several coalition lawmakers had voted for Elron, defying pressure to vote for Rabello. Some evidently switched in the second round, to enable Rabello to win what is supposed to be an independent watchdog post.<\/p>\n \t The Knesset\u2019s legal adviser Sagit Afik issued a legal opinion<\/a> Thursday night rejecting a call for lawmakers to be required to hold a new election for the post of state comptroller. The opposition Yesh Atid party had argued that the vote was tainted and requested that it be overridden.<\/p>\n Rabello, Netanyahu\u2019s longtime personal lawyer, is scheduled to be sworn in on July 1.<\/p>\n At least one petition to the High Court has been filed against Rabello\u2019s appointment, requesting that the court issue an order blocking him from taking up the post until the justices can make a final ruling.<\/p>\n A key question is likely to be whether it can be proven that the lawmakers documented themselves due to external pressure rather than of their own free will.<\/p>\n On Thursday, Rabello met with outgoing comptroller Matanyahu Englman for a transition briefing in the State Comptroller\u2019s Office.<\/p>\n The state comptroller, who reports directly to the Knesset, is responsible, among other things, for the external oversight of the activities of government ministries and local government, and the financial affairs of political parties, safeguarding the public interest. The outgoing comptroller has also been probing the government\u2019s role in the failures that led up to the October 7, 2023, massacre.<\/p>\n The office is meant to be independent of the prime minister and the government, making Rabello\u2019s candidacy and now election particularly sensitive given his longstanding ties to Netanyahu and the allegations that coalition lawmakers were pressured to support him.<\/p>\n \t Rabello has represented Netanyahu in various political negotiations and has acted for both the prime minister and his wife, Sara, in numerous legal proceedings.<\/p>\n Among other cases, he has represented Netanyahu before the High Court of Justice on multiple occasions, including in petitions against the government demanding that a state commission of inquiry be established into the failures surrounding the Hamas-led October 7 invasion and atrocities.<\/p>\n He has also represented the premier\u2019s Likud party, Diaspora Minister Amichai Chikli, and a slate of municipal authorities and state institutions. He is married to the Finance Ministry\u2019s deputy legal adviser.<\/p>\n Ariela Karmel contributed to this report.<\/p>\n
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\n\t\tAttorney Michael Rabello, elected by MKs as State Comptroller on June 3, 2026, is seen at the Knesset on June 1, 2026. (Yonatan Sindel\/Flash90)<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/WhatsApp-Image-2026-06-04-at-14.41.50-640x400.jpeg\")
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\n\t\tState Comptroller Matanyahu Englman, left, meets with his elected successor Michael Rabello at his office in Jerusalem on June 4, 2026. (State Comptroller\u2019s Office)<\/p>\n
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