Sharren Haskel Claims New Hope Members Had to Document Votes for Michael Regev to Netanyahu

Member of Knesset Sharren Haskel submitted an affidavit to Israel's Supreme Court alleging that members of the New Hope party, led by Gideon Sa'ar, were required to record their votes for Michael Regev in the State Comptroller election and present the footage to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Haskel's claim contradicts a previous affidavit by Likud CEO David Sharan, who stated that Netanyahu did not instruct or request any vote documentation. Several Likud MKs and ministers, including Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi and Minister May Golan, also denied receiving any directive to record or disclose their votes.

Haskel filed the affidavit as part of her petition to split from the New Hope faction and form a single-member faction. She accused Likud and New Hope of operating as a unified entity benefiting from shared political and organizational advantages while avoiding formal approval of their merger by the Knesset Committee. Haskel, who served as Deputy Foreign Minister in the current government, resigned last week following the approval of a law freezing the detention of draft dodgers. She subsequently left Sa’ar’s party, criticized him sharply, and announced the creation of a new party called "Israel First."

The Supreme Court recently ruled, against the Knesset legal advisor’s position, that new elections must be held for the State Comptroller role. In the June vote, Regev, Netanyahu’s preferred candidate, faced retired judge Yosef Elron, backed by the opposition. Elron led 60-57 in the first round, but since no candidate secured the required 61 votes, a second round was held. Some MKs, including Finance Committee Chair Hanoch Milwiczky and Communications Minister Karhi, recorded themselves voting for Regev at the ballot.

This controversy highlights internal tensions within the coalition and raises questions about transparency in the comptroller election process and party discipline under Netanyahu’s influence.