MK Sharren Haskel Claims Lawmakers Were Forced to Film Votes for State Comptroller Appointment

MK Sharren Haskel, who recently resigned from the government, submitted an affidavit to Israel's Supreme Court alleging irregularities in the parliamentary vote appointing Michael Regev Rabillo as State Comptroller. Haskel claims that during the vote, members of the "New Hope" faction were compelled to photograph their ballots behind the voting curtain and then show the recordings to Prime Minister Netanyahu. She states this was not merely a request but a mandatory condition imposed on coalition members, undermining the secrecy of the ballot.

Haskel further alleges that the "New Hope" faction had no independent position on the appointment and that the Likud party forced its candidate on them without allowing free debate or individual voting discretion. The affidavit was filed as part of opposition petitions challenging the legitimacy of Rabillo's appointment, citing procedural flaws and breaches of voting confidentiality.

Following these petitions, the Supreme Court issued a conditional order requiring the government to justify why the appointment should not be annulled, even suggesting the possibility of a re-vote due to the alleged violations. Rabillo's appointment has thus become subject to judicial review amid claims that coalition members were coerced into documenting their votes and reporting them to the Prime Minister, raising serious concerns about the integrity of the parliamentary process.