Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana is reportedly considering not complying with a High Court of Justice interim order that froze the appointment of lawyer Michael Ravivo as state comptroller, Channel 13 reported Monday evening. Ohana did not respond to the report. The ruling follows petitions challenging Ravivo’s candidacy.
Last week, after a hearing on the petitions, the justices said they intended to issue an order nisi concerning the secrecy of the Knesset vote. Deputy Supreme Court President Justice Noam Sohlberg criticized the process and said there was an “unwanted cloud” hanging over it, which is why he suggested holding a repeat vote. The court ordered the Knesset to submit its response within a few days.
Attorney Mor Amar, representing petitioner Ya'ya Pink, said there was no personal objection to Ravivo but that the problem went to “the core of the role and the core of the person.” He said Ravivo had been Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s private lawyer, and claimed his team collected 55 cases in which Ravivo represented Netanyahu, including in civil proceedings and in High Court petitions. Ravivo also represented Likud, the Prime Minister’s Office, Minister Yoav Zeh, Minister Idit Silman, and Minister Orit Strock, Amar said, arguing that a conflict-of-interest arrangement would not solve the issue.
Justice Gila Canfy-Steinitz said the prevailing approach is that conflicts can be handled through a conflict-of-interest agreement, adding that no one has ever been disqualified from office because of a conflict, however broad. Attorney Dafna Holtz-Lachner, representing MK Naama Lazimi, said the Knesset’s legal adviser should have warned lawmakers about Ravivo’s conflict. Sohlberg said that, apparently, everything was already open and known to the lawmakers. Justice Ruth Ronen added that the question also arises whether every candidate should disclose potential conflicts in advance.
