Israeli High Court Suspends State Comptroller Appointment Amid Public Support
Translated & summarized from Walla by baba
The Israeli Supreme Court has temporarily blocked Michael Rebilu's appointment as State Comptroller amid legal challenges, with strong public support for the suspension. The current comptroller's term ends Friday, leaving the position vacant until a final court ruling. The decision has sparked political controversy between judicial supporters and government critics.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Israeli Supreme Court suspends Michael Rebilu's State Comptroller appointment pending legal review.
- Walla poll shows 71% public support for the court's suspension decision.
- Current comptroller Matanyahu Englman ends term Friday, leaving the post vacant.
- Movement for Quality Government calls Rebilu's appointment illegal and urges withdrawal.
- Knesset member Naama Lazimi praises court for preventing institutional corruption.
- Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich condemns court, warns of judicial dictatorship.
The Israeli Supreme Court issued an interim injunction on Wednesday to suspend the appointment of Attorney Michael Rebilu as State Comptroller. This decision follows petitions challenging the legality of the voting process that led to his selection. The court stated that a final ruling on the petitions will be delivered "as soon as possible." The current State Comptroller, Matanyahu Englman, is set to end his term on Friday, meaning the position will remain vacant until the court issues its verdict.
A Walla news poll conducted before the elections revealed strong public backing for the court's decision, with 71% of respondents supporting the suspension, 26% opposing it, and a small percentage undecided. The Movement for Quality Government in Israel, which filed one of the petitions, praised the injunction, calling Rebilu's appointment "born in sin" and "illegal," urging him to withdraw his candidacy voluntarily.
Knesset member Naama Lazimi, also among the petitioners, emphasized the Supreme Court's role in preventing what she described as "corruption and contamination" of key public institutions. In contrast, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich condemned the court's intervention, accusing the judiciary of repeatedly obstructing appointments from the national camp and warning against turning Israel into a "judicial dictatorship." The political debate highlights deep divisions over the judiciary's role and the future of key government appointments in Israel.
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