Bennett slams High Court comptroller ruling, accuses coalition of 'criminal' conduct

Opposition leader Naftali Bennett said Thursday that the High Court of Justice ruling annulling the Knesset vote for state comptroller shows the coalition has 'failed' and that appointing 'the prime minister's personal lawyer' as comptroller would be a 'moral defect' and 'criminal misconduct'. Bennett spoke after the court's decision, which the High Court issued minutes before his statement.

Opposition leader Naftali Bennett issued a sharp condemnation Thursday afternoon, moments after the High Court of Justice ruled that the Knesset vote for state comptroller was invalid due to lack of secrecy.

Bennett's remarks — reported by N12 — directly accuse the governing coalition of 'failing' and of 'criminal misconduct' in its handling of the appointment. He specifically targeted the candidacy of Attorney General (and Prime Minister Netanyahu's personal lawyer) as the reason for the ruling, calling it a 'moral defect'.

The High Court's ruling, issued minutes before Bennett spoke, found that the Knesset's selection process had not been conducted in secret, as required by law, and annulled the vote. The Zioneer reported earlier on Thursday that the court gave the Knesset until Sunday to respond. The court's decision follows a petition by opposition MKs, and earlier opponents of the process had already characterized it as 'tainted' and 'lunatic'. Bennett's statement is the most forceful opposition response to the ruling so far, framing the coalition's actions in criminal terms.

2 developments

1. 2 hours ago · 16:37 · 2 JulLatest

   Bennett labels the coalition's conduct 'criminal' and a 'moral defect'.

2. 16:37 · 2 Jul

   Bennett slams comptroller selection as 'chaos', calls for fresh vote

• Strong20 hours ago · 23:07 · 1 JulBennett says next government will cancel all coalition laws — and the High Court is already doing it
• Developing16:22 · 18 JunBennett urges Knesset to accept High Court recommendation, hold new comptroller vote
• Strong15:41 · 24 JunLikud and PM tell High Court Ravilo comptroller election was lawful, oppose cancelation
• Developing12:44 · 16 JunPM tells High Court revoking Ravilo appointment would be unprecedented

Source and signal

A single-sourced dispatch is never rated Confirmed or Strong. Its Signal strengthens only when a second, independent source corroborates it.

• Internal intake