Knesset Speaker Ohana says he's 'glad, proud' Likud defied High Court on repeating comptroller vote

When inquired by KAN, Ohana's office responded: "It is unclear to us what is new about the Knesset speaker's consistent position that the Knesset will not meekly accept being trampled."

Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana (Likud) said he was "glad and proud" that the coalition had refused to comply with a High Court of Justice ruling ordering a repeat election for the state comptroller, according to a recording shared by KAN Reshet Bet on Wednesday.

Speaking to Likud activists ahead of the party primaries, Ohana declared that the refusal to hold another vote was a success for the party.

"We succeeded in drawing a red line for the High Court. The High Court ruled: The Knesset will hold repeat elections for the position of state comptroller. There is a ruling! And what is the answer to a ruling issued without authority and contrary to the law? Enough!" Ohana said in the recording.

"We told them: The Knesset has spoken; there will be no more elections. There has never been a Knesset that quote-unquote dared to defy the supreme ruler, the Supreme Court. I am glad and proud that this Knesset did so," he said.

"It is unclear to us what is new about the Knesset speaker's consistent position that the Knesset will not meekly accept being trampled," Ohana's office said in response to KAN's request for comment.

Comptroller role remains empty following ‘Selfiegate’ scandal

In July, the High Court ordered that a new Knesset vote be held for the position of state comptroller after declaring attorney Michael Rabello’s election invalid following photos shared by Likud members revealing their votes, compromising the secrecy of the ballot.

The Knesset has not yet held another election, and with Rabello’s entry into office frozen and former comptroller Matanyahu Englman’s term ending, the country has been left without a state comptroller.

After the vote was invalidated, Israel First party chair MK Sharren Haskel signed a sworn affidavit and later testified to Lahav 433 that members of the New Hope-United Right faction were required to film themselves voting for Rabello as state comptroller and show the footage to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as proof of how they voted.