Israel’s High Court of Justice on Sunday issued an order nisi in petitions seeking to cancel Michael Rabillo’s appointment as state comptroller. The Knesset must explain why the appointment should not be annulled, but only on the claim that the secret ballot in the selection process was violated.
The justices rejected the petitioners’ separate argument that Rabillo faces a conflict of interest because he previously represented Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. That issue was not included in the order.
The panel of justices, Solberg, Kanfy-Steinitz and Ronen, also decided to expand the bench to five judges. The next hearing is set for next Sunday at 9:00 a.m.
The petitions center on two questions, whether lawmakers were instructed to photograph how they voted in the secret ballot for the post, and whether Rabillo is disqualified because he served as Netanyahu’s private lawyer.
