By Pesach Benson • June 3, 2026
Jerusalem, 3 June, 2026 (TPS-IL) — Attorney Michael Rabello, long-time counsel to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, was elected on Wednesday as Israel’s next State Comptroller after securing 61 votes in the Knesset plenum.
Rabello defeated retired Supreme Court Justice Yosef Elron in a secret ballot held in the Knesset. The election required three rounds of voting, culminating in a coalition-backed victory.
The State Comptroller is Israel’s independent oversight authority, responsible for auditing government ministries and public agencies, evaluating policy implementation, and reviewing state preparedness. The office also investigates systemic failures and publishes public reports on government performance.
The vote was marked by procedural controversy. In the second round, Likud lawmakers were reported to have instructed Knesset members to film their ballots while voting. MK Kati Sheetrit was seen recording her vote, prompting objections from opposition members who demanded the results be invalidated. Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana temporarily halted the process to consult legal advisers before ordering a repeat vote.
Elron was backed by opposition factions, while Rabello received support from Likud and coalition partners. In May, reports said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu personally lobbied coalition leaders to support Rabello after he agreed to run as the Likud-backed nominee.
United Torah Judaism (UTJ) supported Rabello after withdrawing Michael Malchieli’s candidacy from the Judicial Appointments Committee. UTJ leader MK Yitzhak Goldknopf confirmed his vote for Rabello, saying, “He is a nice person. Why shouldn’t we support him?”
Opposition factions Ra’am and Hadash supported Elron. Internal discussions within Hadash reportedly concluded that “bad is better than the worst,” according to sources familiar with the matter.
Elron’s name was previously been mentioned in connection with potential roles involving investigations into the failures surrounding Hamas’ October 7, 2023 attack.
Rabello has represented Netanyahu in several politically sensitive legal and public matters, including coalition negotiations during the formation of the wartime emergency government. He also participated in discussions with President Isaac Herzog’s office during talks on judicial reform compromises and represented the government before the High Court in petitions concerning the authority of a criminal defendant to form a government and the establishment of a state commission of inquiry into the October 7 attacks.
The outgoing State Comptroller, Matanyahu Engelman, completes his seven-year term on July 4.
