Vacant State Comptroller Post Halts Protection Orders for Whistleblowers in Israel

Since the end of Matanyahu Englman's term as State Comptroller and the invalidation of Michael Regevilo's appointment by the Supreme Court due to confidentiality breaches in the Knesset vote, the position remains unfilled. This vacancy has led to a legal vacuum where no authority can issue protection orders for whistleblowers. On Monday evening, Channel 12 reported that ten requests for corruption investigations and protective orders were outright rejected because there is currently no authorized official to grant them.

This situation leaves employees who report corruption or workplace wrongdoing without legal protection under the law. For example, a senior government employee who sought a protection order after raising concerns about misconduct at her workplace was informed by the State Comptroller's office that since both the State Comptroller and Public Complaints Commissioner positions are vacant, they cannot process her request.

The State Comptroller's office confirmed receiving ten such requests since the post became vacant but stated they cannot rule on them until a new Comptroller is appointed. They emphasized that the law grants the authority to protect whistleblowers exclusively to the acting State Comptroller and Public Complaints Commissioner, and without an incumbent, no legal remedy can be provided. The office highlighted that protecting whistleblowers is a key legal function of the State Comptroller, underscoring the urgency of filling the position to restore this protection.