'The Process Was Contaminated': Petitions to the High Court After the State Comptroller Vote, and the Outrage

Attorney Michael Rabillo, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s lawyer, was elected today, Wednesday, as State Comptroller, after a secret ballot and drama in the Knesset. Turmoil was recorded in the plenum during the second round of voting, following claims by the opposition that Likud faction manager Aliza Brashi had demanded that coalition members photograph their vote for Netanyahu’s candidate behind the curtain. Immediately after the vote, the Movement for Quality Government and the Yesh Atid faction announced that they would petition the High Court of Justice against the appointment. After the appointment, Rabillo said: "I thank the Holy One, blessed be He. I thank the members of the Knesset for the trust they placed in me. I accept the role with a deep sense of responsibility and full commitment to all citizens of Israel."

"The appointment of the prime minister’s personal attorney to the post responsible for overseeing the prime minister himself is a severe conflict of interest," the Movement for Quality Government added. "And it was carried out in a process that was contaminated before our eyes, after Knesset members were reportedly required to document their vote in an unlawful manner as a loyalty test, contrary to the position of the Knesset legal adviser," the movement said in its response. "It is important to emphasize, what we have just seen is the opening shot of the election campaign: this is what the attempt to subordinate the gatekeepers to personal loyalty looks like, and this is the direction heading into the general elections. We must not remain silent about this."

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu congratulated him: "I congratulate Attorney Michael Rabillo on his election as State Comptroller. In the coming days I will invite him to a first working meeting in his new role. I wish Attorney Rabillo great success in his position. We will work together in full cooperation for the benefit of the public service in the State of Israel."

Opposition leader MK Yair Lapid wrote: "The Likud party contaminated the election for State Comptroller. I will petition the High Court on behalf of the Yesh Atid faction (Together) in light of the violation of the secrecy of the vote and after the intervention of the Knesset speaker on behalf of the Likud faction against the position of the legal adviser. I intend to petition the High Court in order to clarify the legality of the process."

Gadi Eisenkot, chairman of the Yashar party, wrote: "Attorney Michael Rabillo, we do not know you. You were elected in a dictatorial method that challenged Israeli democracy and was led by a prime minister who does not enjoy the public’s trust and sees himself above the rule of law. If you have any shred of morality and values, immediately announce that you are unwilling to accept the post. If you agree to accept it, you are disqualified in my eyes and in the eyes of many from any public service in Israel."

Israel Beiteinu chairman MK Avigdor Liberman said: "It is interesting what the prime minister of October 7 promised the draft dodgers so that they would support his private lawyer for the post of State Comptroller."

Rabillo, 58, studied law at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and was a research assistant in contract law, evidence law and constitutional law. After completing his studies in 1993, he interned with Justice Menachem Elon, then deputy president of the Supreme Court. In 1994, Rabillo passed the Israel Bar Association exams and later joined the office of David Shimron and Yitzhak Molcho. He later completed a master’s degree in law from the Hebrew University. Throughout his professional career he worked at A.S. Shimron, Y. Molcho, Pryski & Co., of David Shimron and Yitzhak Molcho, until becoming a partner there. His areas of expertise include complex litigation, representation in civil courts and labor courts, arbitration and mediation, public tenders, real estate and insolvency.

Over the years, Rabillo became close to Benjamin Netanyahu, and besides representing him in legal proceedings, he also serves as his personal adviser. It was previously reported that Netanyahu offered him the post of cabinet secretary, but Rabillo turned down the offer and preferred to remain in the legal field. Among other things, he represented Netanyahu in a High Court petition over the appointment of Aryeh Deri as minister. He also represented the government in hearings on Netanyahu’s eligibility to serve in office in light of the indictment filed against him, the disqualification of Amichai Chikli from running on the Likud list, and petitions regarding the establishment of a state commission of inquiry, after the attorney general, Gali Baharav-Miara, announced that she would not represent its position. He also led, on behalf of Likud, the coalition negotiations over Gideon Sa’ar and the New Hope party joining the 37th government.

His father is Mordechai Alfredo Rabillo, professor emeritus of law at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and the Safed Academic College.