Netanyahu’s lawyer a candidate for State Comptroller — report

Michael Rabello, an attorney who has represented Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the High Court of Justice on several occasions, is a candidate for the position of State Comptroller, Hebrew media reports.

Netanyahu himself is pushing Rabello’s candidacy, Kan reports, and has held several meetings with coalition party heads in an effort to persuade them to support him.

Rabello has represented Netanyahu in High Court petitions when the attorney general has opposed the government’s position, including the petitions demanding a state commission of inquiry be established into the catastrophic October 7, 2023, invasion and atrocities, and the petitions against the government’s reasonableness law.

Another candidate for the position is retired Supreme Court judge Yosef Elron, Kan reports.

The State Comptroller has the authority to audit and review the functioning of government ministries and agencies and examine whether they are acting legally, efficiently, and properly.

The position is elected by secret ballot of all Knesset members and must secure a majority to be elected.