Knesset Speaker Rejects Supreme Court Compromise on State Comptroller Vote

Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana said on Sunday that he will not hold a repeat vote on the election of the State Comptroller, rejecting a compromise suggested by Supreme Court justices. In a post on X, Ohana wrote that “the Knesset has already had its say,” and said he was refusing the court’s proposed remedy for the reasons detailed in the Knesset’s response to the petitions challenging the appointment.

The announcement followed a hearing on Thursday over petitions against the election of Michael Ravilo as State Comptroller. The petitioners argue that coalition lawmakers filmed themselves voting behind the curtain, contrary to instructions from the Knesset legal adviser, violating ballot secrecy and tainting the selection process. They say the irregularities were done under pressure and direction.

During the hearing, Deputy Supreme Court President Noam Sohlberg, together with Justices Gila Canfy-Steinitz and Ruth Ronen, proposed an alternative remedy that would avoid direct interference with the Knesset’s discretion. Sohlberg said some of the votes were problematic because lawmakers acted against the instructions, and suggested rerunning the vote in a proper and clean process.

Ohana’s rejection of that compromise now sends the case back to the Supreme Court judges, who must decide whether the vote was lawful or whether Ravilo’s appointment should be annulled. The petitions were filed, among others, by the Movement for Quality Government, the National Unity party, and the Brothers in Arms organization. Ravilo has denied claims of political dependence and says his election was legal.