Retired Supreme Court justice to face off against Netanyahu’s lawyer in secret ballot for state comptroller today

(L) Outgoing Supreme Court justice Yosef Elron at the Supreme Court in Jerusalem, September 18, 2025 and (R) Attorney Michael Rabello at the Supreme Court in Jerusalem, April 23, 2026 (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
(L) Outgoing Supreme Court justice Yosef Elron at the Supreme Court in Jerusalem, September 18, 2025 and (R) Attorney Michael Rabello at the Supreme Court in Jerusalem, April 23, 2026 (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

The Knesset is set to vote for the next state comptroller today in a race that will see Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s lawyer Michael Rabello face off against opposition candidate retired Supreme Court justice Yosef Elron.

Netanyahu is reported to have personally pushed for Rabello’s nomination. Rabello has represented the premier before the High Court of Justice on multiple occasions, including regarding petitions demanding that a state commission of inquiry be established into the failures surrounding the Hamas-led October 7, 2023, invasion and atrocities.

Coalition lawmakers, including members of Netanyahu’s ruling Likud party, had sought to nominate Elron, who is seen as a staunch conservative jurist, but the prime minister pushed for Rabello’s candidacy instead, according to Channel 12.

According to Haaretz, it is unclear if all the coalition lawmakers will vote for Rabello.

The state comptroller, elected by secret ballot in the Knesset, has the authority to audit and review the functioning of government ministries and agencies and examine whether they are acting legally, efficiently and properly.

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