As expected, the High Court of Justice issued a conditional order Monday morning against the appointment of Michael Ravilo as State Comptroller. Journalist Yaakov Bardugo attacked the justices, saying: "They are stealing the elections" — warning that if the court disqualifies a Knesset candidate chosen by the sovereign's representatives, nothing would prevent it from annulling the people's vote.
On Monday, the High Court of Justice issued a conditional order against the appointment of Michael Ravilo as State Comptroller, with the case now set for an expanded five-justice panel hearing in one week. Journalist Yaakov Bardugo responded sharply, accusing the justices of overreach. In remarks carried by his the source, Bardugo said: "They are stealing the elections. If they disqualified a Knesset candidate chosen by the sovereign's representatives, what would stop them from disqualifying the people's vote?"
The conditional order was first reported by The Zioneer at 19:51 on Sunday evening, when the court ordered the Knesset to justify why the selection should not be annulled and expanded the panel to five justices. The order specifically targeted Ravilo's appointment, as a series of versions published that evening refined the details. Earlier, on Sunday at 21:34, The Zioneer reported that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the Likud party had told the court that a revote could not be held because the political circumstances had changed, warning of a dangerous precedent.
As context, the court's intervention follows a week of legal filings. On June 15, retired Supreme Court Justice Yosef Elron asked the court to freeze Ravilo's appointment, arguing the second Knesset vote was unlawful. The following day, Ravilo himself insisted his election was lawful, while Likud submitted a legal defense opposing the petition. On June 18, coalition MK Boaz Bismuth called the court's step a "dark moment," and attorney Ilan Bombach criticized the opposition petition.
What remains open is whether the expanded panel will annul the appointment or allow it to proceed. A hearing is scheduled within one week; the court did not issue an interim freeze of Ravilo's entry into office.
6 developments
- StrongLikud, PM tell High Court revote on Ravilo comptroller appointment cannot happen
- DevelopingState Comptroller-elect Ravilo tells High Court his election was lawful
- DevelopingKnesset legal adviser urges High Court to dismiss petitions against Ravilo appointment
- StrongHigh Court hearing on Ravilo appointment: MK Gottlieb clashes with justice, argues filming is no proof of directive
Source and signal
- Internal intake