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MK Sharren Haskel has provided testimony to Lahav 433, the Israeli police's national fraud investigation unit, in connection with the election of the State Comptroller, according to her spokesperson as reported by the Jerusalem Post. The testimony comes after the High Court of Justice ruled the election invalid.

Coverage Comparison

The Jerusalem Post reported on July 30 that Haskel was summoned by Lahav 433 to testify regarding the election of the State Comptroller, which the High Court of Justice ruled invalid. The report noted that one week earlier, Haskel stated that she and other coalition lawmakers were required to film themselves voting for the State Comptroller and send the videos to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

In a subsequent report on August 2, the Jerusalem Post stated that the inquiry was launched at the initiative of the attorney-general, and that Haskel provided testimony to Lahav 433, with her spokesperson confirming the development.

An earlier Jerusalem Post article, published July 23, detailed Haskel's sworn affidavit in which she alleged that members of the New Hope-United Right faction were required to film themselves voting for Michael Rabello as state comptroller and show the footage to Netanyahu. The affidavit was filed in connection with Haskel's separate petition seeking permission to break away from Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar's New Hope-United Right faction and be recognized as a one-member faction.

Key Claims

  • Summons and testimony: MK Sharren Haskel was summoned by Lahav 433 to testify regarding the election of the State Comptroller. Her spokesperson confirmed she provided testimony on Sunday, as reported by the Jerusalem Post.
  • High Court ruling: The High Court of Justice ruled the election invalid. According to the Jerusalem Post, the court invalidated Rabello's election and ordered a new vote because the filming of ballots had violated the secrecy of the election.
  • Allegations of filmed votes: Haskel stated that coalition lawmakers were required to film themselves voting for the State Comptroller and send the videos to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. This claim, made in her affidavit, conflicts with the position presented by the Likud during the legal proceedings over Rabello's election, as reported by the Jerusalem Post.
  • Inquiry initiative: The inquiry was launched at the initiative of the attorney-general, as reported by the Jerusalem Post.
  • Timing and context of affidavit: Haskel signed the affidavit weeks after the High Court of Justice invalidated Rabello's election. The affidavit was filed in her separate petition seeking to break away from the New Hope-United Right faction, not in the Rabello election case itself.
  • Prior public statements: Haskel had publicly said on June 14, while the Rabello case was still before the court, that coalition lawmakers had been required to photograph themselves behind the voting curtain, and that the matter should be examined by the court.

Perspectives

Haskel's position: Haskel has alleged that coalition lawmakers were required to film their votes for the state comptroller and provide the footage to Prime Minister Netanyahu, a claim she made in a sworn affidavit and in public statements.

Likud's position: During the legal proceedings over Rabello's election, the Likud presented a position that conflicts with Haskel's claim, according to the Jerusalem Post. The specifics of that position were not detailed in the reports.