Whistleblowers Left Unprotected as Israel Lacks State Comptroller to Issue Protection Orders
Israel currently faces a critical gap in protecting public sector whistleblowers due to the absence of a State Comptroller. Following the end of Comptroller Matanyahu Englman’s term about a week ago, no successor has been appointed. The Knesset’s recent attempt to elect a new comptroller was invalidated by the Supreme Court over procedural issues, and with the Knesset set to dissolve next week, no vote can be held for at least three months.
This situation means that for the duration of the election period and the subsequent coalition formation, whistleblowers will be left without legal protection. The State Comptroller’s office is solely authorized to issue protection orders that shield whistleblowers from dismissal and workplace retaliation. Without a sitting comptroller, no new protection orders can be granted, and existing orders cannot be enforced, leaving whistleblowers vulnerable.
The State Comptroller’s office confirmed that no other official can issue these orders in the interim. This exposes whistleblowers who risk their careers to uphold integrity in public service to potential harm without recourse. The Movement for Quality Government in Israel, which represents whistleblowers, warned of the severe consequences and has appealed to the Public Complaints Commissioner to address the issue.
Attorney Rachel El Shai Rosenfeld, head of the Movement’s whistleblower protection unit, emphasized the public interest in safeguarding these employees and called the current legal vacuum "an exceptional and dangerous situation." The office of the State Comptroller reiterated that the authority to protect whistleblowers is legally vested only in the acting comptroller, and until a new appointment is made, no legal remedies can be provided to those alleging retaliation for exposing corruption.
The lack of a State Comptroller thus leaves whistleblowers exposed and undermines efforts to maintain transparency and accountability in the Israeli public sector.
