Yitzhak Tunik Approved by Knesset Unit as The New State Comptroller, JTA, Jan. 11, 1982.

Yitzhak Tunik, a 70-year-old lawyer from Tel Aviv, has been approved by the Knesset’s House Committee to be State Comptroller, succeeding Yitzhak Nebenzahl who retired last month after serving four five-year terms. His formal appointment by President Yitzhak Navon is expected shortly.

The State Comptroller is the principal supervisor of efficiency and ethics in all branches and agencies of government. Though Tunik was endorsed by seven of the Knesset committee’s 13 members, his appointment was the subject of intense debate within Likud and among opposition factions.

The Labor Alignment and Tami favored former Mayor Eliahu Nawi of Beersheba for the office. Some members of Likud’s Liberal Party wing backed Uriel Linn, a high-level Treasury official and argued that Tunik is too old for the watchdog post. But they were brought into line by the party bosses who had agreed earlier to support Tunik.