Michael Rabello

Netanyahu's state comptroller pick Michael Rabello withdraws candidacy after vote controversy

Rabello confirmed his decision to withdraw his candidacy in a letter on Friday addressed to Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana.

|ByJERUSALEM POST STAFF
Attorney Michael Rabello, candidate for the State Comptroller seen at the Knesset, the Israeli parliament in Jerusalem, on June 1, 2026.
Knesset Legal Adviser Sagit Afik attends a House committee meeting at the Knesset in Jerusalem on, July 8, 2026.

Knesset legal adviser urges vote as Israel enters fourth month without comptroller

The position of state comptroller has been vacant since July, when Matanyahu Englman completed his term without a successor in line and Michael Rabello's election was invalidated.

|BySARAH BEN-NUN
Formed deputy foreign minister Sharren Haskel speaks to the media as she announces her resignation as Deputy Foreign Minister at the Knesset in Jerusalem, July 14, 2026.

New Hope MKs ordered to film comptroller vote for Netanyahu, Sharren Haskel claims

Haskel signed the affidavit weeks after the High Court of Justice invalidated Rabello’s election and ordered a new vote because the filming of ballots had violated the secrecy of the election.

|BySARAH BEN-NUN
A court hearing at the Supreme Court in Jerusalem on petitions seeking to overturn the election of attorney Michael Rabello as state comptroller, June 18, 2026

Israel's justice minister urges government to defy High Court ruling on state comptroller revote

Yariv Levin said Rabello should "assume the position" of state comptroller, despite last week's call for a revote after the initial election was deemed invalid due to a secret-ballot controversy.

|ByKESHET NEEV

Israel to be left without state comptroller after Supreme Court freezes Rabello's election

The Supreme Court ruled unanimously that in the second round of voting in the election for state comptroller, a substantive flaw occurred regarding the secrecy of the ballot.

JULY 5, 2026ByGILAD MORAG
Attorney Michael Rabello, candidate for the State Comptroller seen at the Knesset, the Israeli parliament in Jerusalem, on June 1, 2026.

Court temporarily freezes Rabello's appointment as state comptroller, pending future ruling

The High Court of Justice temporarily froze Michael Rabello's appointment as state comptroller, days before he was set to take office, pending a final ruling in the legal challenge.

JULY 1, 2026BySARAH BEN-NUN
Attorney Michael Rabello seen before a court hearing on the dismissal of National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir at the Supreme Court in Jerusalem, April 15, 2026.

High Court issues conditional order in Rabello State Comptroller election case, expands panel

The court set a hearing on the order for Sunday at 9 a.m. and instructed the respondents to file affidavits by noon on Wednesday, with the petitioners' written arguments due by 4 p.m. on Thursday.

JUNE 21, 2026BySARAH BEN-NUN
Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana speaks during a plenum session at the assembly hall of the Knesset, the Israeli parliament in Jerusalem, May 27, 2026.

High Court urges Knesset to hold third vote on state comptroller after filming scandal

Michael Rabello, Netanyahu’s longtime personal attorney, was elected on June 3 after a dramatic two-round Knesset vote. Petitions against his appointment argue that the vote was legally defective.

JUNE 18, 2026BySARAH BEN-NUN
The High Court of Justice hears petitions against the vote to appoint Michael Rabello as state comptroller, in Jerusalem, June 18, 2026