Vacuum at State Comptroller's Office: Whistleblower Protection Requests Rejected Outright

Ten requests by whistleblowers for protective orders have been rejected outright due to the absence of an acting State Comptroller. The Comptroller's Office confirmed that no legally authorized body can grant such orders until a new comptroller is appointed. One applicant, a senior official in a government ministry, received a written response stating that her request could not be processed. The position has been vacant since Matanyahu Englman ended his tenure, and after the High Court of Justice disqualified the election of Michael Ravilo.

Ten requests by whistleblowers for protective orders have been rejected outright due to the absence of an acting State Comptroller. The State Comptroller's Office confirmed the matter, stating that since the position became vacant, ten requests for protective orders have been received, but they cannot be decided until a new State Comptroller is appointed. The office emphasized that without a serving official, there is no legal possibility to grant the requested relief. The implication is that employees seeking to expose corruption or wrongdoing in their workplace cannot currently receive the protection that the law grants to whistleblowers. Until a new State Comptroller is appointed, these requests cannot be processed. For example, N12 obtained a request from a senior official in a government ministry who sought a protective order following allegations she raised about conduct at her workplace. In the response she received from the State Comptroller's Office, it was written: "The outgoing State Comptroller and Ombudsman has ended his tenure, and no State Comptroller and Ombudsman has yet been appointed in his place. Under these circumstances, and in the absence of an authorized body to grant an order as you request—whether temporary or permanent—we regret that we cannot process your request." The position of State Comptroller has remained vacant since Matanyahu Englman ended his tenure, and after the High Court of Justice disqualified the results of the vote in which Michael Ravilo was elected, due to a breach of secrecy in the Knesset election process.