Sa’ar denies Haskel’s claim New Hope whip ordered MKs to film state comptroller vote

Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar denies claims by New Hope MK Sharren Haskel that she was instructed by the party’s whip to record themselves casting ballots for Michael Rabello in the vote for state comptroller in June, in an affidavit submitted to the High Court of Justice.

The document charges that Haskel’s claims “not only lack daylight, but they also lack relevance and are designed to create a media provocation.”

It insists there was no such demand by the ruling Likud party, while noting that Sa’ar, who was overseas at the time of the vote, made clear to party members that they were not supposed to video themselves casting their ballots.

A source familiar with the investigation was cited by Kan earlier as saying that Haskel told police investigators today that the instructions came down from New Hope MK Michel Buskila, the party whip.

Rabello, who is Netanyahu’s attorney, had trailed in the inconclusive first round, but won in the second after at least six coalition lawmakers recorded themselves casting their ballots. The Supreme Court has since annulled the vote, finding it violated the required secrecy.

Noam Lehmann contributed to this report.