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.

Michael Rabello, the coalition's preferred candidate to become the state comptroller, withdrew his candidacy from consideration in a letter addressed to Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana on Friday.

Israel has not had a state comptroller since early July, when Matanyahu Englman completed his seven-year term without a successor in line to take office.

Rabello was chosen over retired Supreme Court justice Yosef Elron on June 3 after two rounds of voting. Elron led the first round 60-57, leaving both short of the 61 votes required. The vote was then restarted after allegations emerged that coalition MKs had photographed or filmed their ballots behind the voting screen. Rabello won the second round 61-57.

Rabello withdraws comptroller candidacy

Under the State Comptroller Law, the speaker must convene the Knesset to elect a comptroller even during a recess, Knesset legal adviser Sagit Afik told the High Court of Justice in October.

Because the court had ordered the second round of voting to be held again, Ohana would not be required to repeat the formal consultation with his nine deputies or provide the three weeks’ written notice ordinarily required before an initial comptroller election, she said.

Reasonable advance notice would nevertheless be necessary, Afik said, adding that none of the Knesset factions or deputy speakers had asked Ohana to convene the plenum for a repeat vote.