Michael Rabilo Reportedly Withdraws From State Comptroller Race

Attorney Michael Rabilo has reportedly decided not to compete again for state comptroller after the incoming Knesset takes office. The decision was disclosed on November 4 against the background of the outgoing coalition losing its parliamentary majority. Rabilo, who previously represented Benjamin Netanyahu privately, did not respond to the report. Rabilo had sought a repeat election in the outgoing Knesset following the High Court's invalidation of the earlier second-round ballot. His associates rejected suggestions that his work for Netanyahu and Likud made him unsuitable for the oversight post. They said he would comply with conflict-of-interest restrictions and could examine subjects unrelated to Netanyahu's personal affairs. The election's format remains unresolved. One possibility is to repeat only the invalidated second round; another is to reopen nominations. Retired Supreme Court justice Yosef Elron would be the sole remaining candidate if Rabilo withdraws and new nominations are excluded. Knesset legal adviser Sagit Afik has indicated a preliminary preference for repeating the second round, while acknowledging competing considerations and leaving a decision until the new Knesset and its speaker are in place. In the original first round, Elron received 60 votes and Rabilo 57, short of the required 61. Rabilo won the second round, which was later invalidated after coalition lawmakers documented their votes in breach of ballot secrecy. The 26th Knesset is due to be sworn in on November 10.