Outgoing Israeli State Comptroller Metanyahu Englman Reflects on Seven Turbulent Years in Office

Metanyahu Englman, the outgoing State Comptroller of Israel, gave his first interview since leaving office, reflecting on his seven intense years in one of the country’s most sensitive public roles. Speaking at Channel 14’s Security Conference with Maggie Tabibi, Englman expressed pride in his work amid unprecedented national crises, including the global COVID-19 pandemic, frequent election cycles, and the October 7 terror attacks, which he described as a "terrible and horrific failure."

During his tenure, Englman’s office published nearly 640 reports covering a wide range of issues central to Israeli society. He emphasized that his guiding principle was always the public’s welfare, stating, "I kept the citizens of Israel foremost in my mind throughout."

Englman revealed dramatic details about the night of the October 7 massacre, noting that the IDF Chief of Staff and Shin Bet head were unaware of the "Nova party" incident during their consultations. He also disclosed that during audits, his team discovered an Israeli military entity secretly recording meetings without coordination. Addressing objections from the Attorney General and Public Defender regarding investigations into the October 7 massacre, Englman said these arose only after accountability efforts began. He credited IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir’s appointment with enabling the Comptroller’s office to carry out its work effectively.

Regarding Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Englman noted that Netanyahu did not personally call him during the war audits but instructed his staff to cooperate fully. Englman also criticized the High Court of Justice’s interim order freezing Michael Regev’s appointment as the next State Comptroller, calling the situation "abnormal" and surprising that it had gone largely unnoticed.

Englman’s reflections highlight the complexity and challenges of overseeing government accountability during times of crisis in Israel.