ByORI WERTMAN

JUNE 14, 2026 08:18

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will return to face Israeli voters at the end of October, possibly concluding a political journey that has lasted nearly four decades.

Although held accountable for the shortcomings of October 7, 2023, numerous citizens still acknowledge Netanyahu for his actions following the attack and his resolve to address long-standing dangers facing the nation.

After almost three years of conflict, adversaries including the Iranian leadership, Hezbollah, and Hamas have endured significant setbacks. The removal of key individuals such as Khamenei, Nasrallah, Haniyeh, Sinwar, and others is regarded by backers as proof of Netanyahu's commitment to security goals amid substantial global scrutiny.

These security gains have bolstered Israel's position overall, yet they fall short of the total triumph over opponents that Netanyahu pledged repeatedly during the fighting.

Alongside these results, the recent days brought forward an episode that carries the prime minister's clear mark: the selection process for the state comptroller.

While retired Supreme Court justice Yosef Elron, seen as a vocal critic of Supreme Court President Isaac Amit, stood as a contender, Netanyahu opted to back his own lawyer, Michael Rabello, who has defended him in multiple High Court cases.

In the past, the State Comptroller role typically went to prominent judicial figures, including former Supreme Court justices Yaakov Maltz, Miriam Ben-Porat, and Eliezer Goldberg, along with district court judges Micha Lindenstrauss and Yosef Shapira.

The choice of Matanyahu Englman, drawn from academic circles rather than the courts and with prior roles at the Technion and the Council for Higher Education, already marked a break from established practice.

Still, a clear distinction exists between selecting an outside professional and choosing Rabello, a partner in the firm of David Shimron and Yitzhak Molcho, who have advised Netanyahu since his initial term on delicate diplomatic and legal issues.

The risk of conflicting interests stands out plainly in this case.

Although viewed by many as a concerning move away from proper leadership, Netanyahu's political support has held steady. Surveys show Likud holding 23 seats, ahead of Naftali Bennett with 21 and Gadi Eisenkot with 19.

The matter could spark short-term frustration among centrist voters, yet lasting electoral effects appear modest. Unlike security topics, questions of official integrity and ethics have rarely swayed Israeli voting patterns in a major way.

This pattern appears in the 1999 election, when Shas grew from 10 to 17 seats soon after leader Arye Deri faced conviction.

Ariel Sharon similarly guided Likud to 38 seats in 2003 amid the ongoing Cyril Kern matter. Netanyahu has likewise secured repeated strong results for Likud despite facing legal cases.

Absence of Leadership Quality

The issue goes past the flawed Knesset voting, where some members recorded their votes to show allegiance to coalition heads, producing images more typical of rigid regimes than a developed parliamentary system.

That Netanyahu's personal attorney, irrespective of qualifications, received serious consideration and backing for State Comptroller signals a concern.

Despite attempts by Netanyahu and allies to downplay warnings from judicial reform opponents about loyalty influencing key appointments, the Rabello matter has reinforced those points instead.

Regrettably, much like the March 2023 removal of Yoav Gallant, this event points to a clear shortfall in leadership quality.

The writer serves as a lecturer and research fellow at the University of South Wales, UK. Author of Collapse: Israeli Labor Party 1992-2024.