Attorney Michael Ravilo Withdraws Bid for State Comptroller Role

Attorney Michael Ravilo has announced he is withdrawing his candidacy for the position of State Comptroller. Ravilo, who has served as an attorney for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, stated his decision to forgo the role. It is understood that Ravilo's chances of being elected were slim due to changes in the Knesset's composition and the fact that Netanyahu lacks a majority. Israel has been without a State Comptroller for four months.

Ravilo previously represented Prime Minister Netanyahu and the State of Israel (Ministry of Justice) in High Court of Justice proceedings. He also acted as legal counsel for the Likud party, represented the party in coalition negotiations, and regularly handled constitutional and administrative matters before the High Court. He is considered a respected attorney.

Sources close to Ravilo told Maariv that a "orchestrated campaign" was waged against his candidacy, raising concerns about conflicts of interest due to his representation of the Prime Minister. These sources argued that while Ravilo would have been recused from matters directly concerning Netanyahu's personal affairs, this would have constituted a "minuscule part" of the Comptroller's purview. They emphasized that his legal work for the government, Prime Minister, and Likud primarily focused on constitutional and administrative issues, not typically the core focus of state audits. They added that had he been elected, Ravilo would have acted professionally and impartially, committed to all citizens and adhering to conflict of interest regulations.

The news of Ravilo's withdrawal was first reported by Ynet.