Knesset Legal Advisor Urges Immediate Re-Vote for State Comptroller Following Supreme Court Ruling

The Knesset's legal advisor, Attorney Shagit Afik, has instructed Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana to promptly hold a new vote for the State Comptroller position, in accordance with a Supreme Court ruling. The court decided last Thursday that the Knesset must conduct a re-vote after irregularities were found in the June 3 election, where some members took selfies with their ballots behind the voting curtain during the selection of Attorney Michael Regev. Afik emphasized that the vote should take place soon, even if it occurs after the Knesset dissolves on July 17, as the outgoing Knesset retains full authority to elect the Comptroller due to the importance of the role and legal provisions ensuring parliamentary continuity.

Ohana has not yet announced how he will proceed, but it is expected that after the Knesset's dissolution, he will convene the plenum to hold the vote. This is anticipated to happen once the ultra-Orthodox parties secure their demands regarding kosher laws, freezing arrests of draft-dodging yeshiva students, and a Basic Law on Torah study. Afik's legal opinion clarifies that despite the usual restraint exercised by an outgoing Knesset during election periods, the law mandates full powers to elect the Comptroller.

Meanwhile, the coalition currently shows no intention to comply with the Supreme Court's ruling. The opposition is also cautious about pushing for the re-vote immediately, understanding that if it takes place after the Likud primaries on August 4, expelled members might vote for the rival candidate, Yosef Elron, as retaliation for not being re-elected to the next Knesset.