Retired Supreme Court Justice Urges Freeze on Ravilo Appointment as State Comptroller

Retired Supreme Court Justice Yosef Elron filed an unusually brief but significant response to the High Court of Justice on Monday, backing the petitioners who are challenging the appointment of Michael Ravilo as state comptroller. Elron argued that the second vote held in the Knesset was illegal and asked the court to issue an immediate interim order freezing Ravilo’s entry into the post.

In his filing, Elron wrote that he joins the petitioners’ claims regarding the illegality of the second vote in the Knesset chamber and supports the requested remedies, including a temporary injunction preventing Ravilo from taking office as state comptroller. His position means he is asking the High Court to stop the appointment until it rules on the legality of the process.

At the same time, Elron drew a clear line and rejected the other arguments raised against Ravilo. The filing shows that he does not accept the claims of personal or professional conflict of interest presented in the case. Those allegations were advanced by MK Naama Lazimi of the Labor Party, through attorney Dafna Holz-Lechner, who sought to link Ravilo’s connections to his fitness for the role.

Elron appears to be focusing only on the constitutional and procedural question of the Knesset vote. The next step now lies with the High Court justices, who will soon have to decide whether to accept the petitioners’ request, together with Elron’s position, and halt the planned appointment of the new state comptroller.