Israel’s High Court of Justice heard live arguments on Thursday over seven petitions seeking to void the election of attorney Michael Ravilo, who serves as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s lawyer, as state comptroller. Ravilo won the vote 61 to 57, defeating retired Supreme Court justice Yosef Elron.
The petitions argue that the secrecy of the ballot was violated and that Ravilo faces a conflict of interest. According to the claims, coalition lawmakers were required to document themselves voting for Ravilo in the second round, after he lost in the first. The challengers say this breached the Basic Law: State Comptroller, which requires secret voting.
The panel deciding the case consists of Deputy President Noam Sohlberg and Justices Gila Canfy-Steinitz and Ruth Ronen. They must determine whether the voting process, including lawmakers filming and publishing their ballots, was lawful or invalid because secrecy was compromised. Ravilo’s opponents also argue that his long-time role as Netanyahu’s lawyer creates a severe conflict that makes him unfit for the post.
The petitions were filed by the Movement for Quality Government, the Israel Bar Association, the opposition factions Yesh Atid and Blue and White, MK Karine Elharrar, MK Naama Lazimi, the Israeli Citizens organization, and attorney Yehuda Rassler. They are asking for a new election for state comptroller. Elron has joined the petitioners and says the election of Ravilo was unlawful. Netanyahu and Likud, represented by attorneys Ilan Bombach and Shai Levy, want the petitions dismissed, saying they were filed only because the petitioners dislike the election result. They also argue there is no ban on self-recording one’s vote and no proof that MKs were instructed to record their ballot choices, and they cite former attorneys general Yehuda Weinstein and Avichai Mandelblit as examples of officials appointed despite ties to Netanyahu.
