Israeli Supreme Court Reviews Legality of State Comptroller Appointment Amid Voting Controversy

The Israeli Supreme Court convened this morning with an expanded panel of five justices to examine the legality of appointing Attorney Michael Regev as State Comptroller. The court, led by President Isaac Amit and including Vice President Noam Solberg and Justices Daphna Barak-Erez, Yael Kanfi-Steinitz, and Ruth Ronen, is tasked with deciding whether procedural flaws during the parliamentary vote invalidate the appointment.

The controversy stems from the June 3, 2026 vote in the Knesset, where several members were recorded using mobile phones behind the voting curtain to photograph their ballots. This widespread practice, involving multiple factions, raised serious concerns about the breach of ballot secrecy, a fundamental principle in selecting the State Comptroller. Petitioners argue this compromised the democratic process, while Knesset and Likud representatives contend no explicit law prohibits phone use behind the curtain and that annulling the vote would constitute undue judicial interference.

Previously, on June 18, the court suggested resolving the dispute through a repeat, proper vote in the Knesset. However, on June 21, Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana declined to hold a new vote, effectively passing the final decision to the Supreme Court. The court has issued a conditional order and is now deliberating the matter in a high-profile session that has stirred significant political and legal tension.