Report: Rabello won’t take office as state comptroller without new vote, in light of High Court ruling

Michael Rabello, who was elected state comptroller in a controversial vote that the High Court of Justice invalidated earlier today, has no intention of taking office without a new Knesset vote, even if the government defies the ruling and refuses to hold one, Channel 12 reports, citing sources close to him.

According to the report, Rabello, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s personal attorney, has made clear he will not assume a post clouded by questions over the legality of his election. The network says he also hopes to be appointed to the Supreme Court one day and would not want to jeopardize that possibility or expose himself to disciplinary action against his law license.

Channel 12 also reports that Rabello spoke with coalition leaders this afternoon and made clear he would not assume the role under the existing circumstances.

The High Court ruled earlier today that Rabello’s election was invalid because of breaches of ballot secrecy, after several ministers either displayed their voting slip with Rabello’s name visible outside the voting booth or photographed or filmed themselves casting their ballots for him inside it.