Israel’s government has taken a significant step by voting to shut down Army Radio, also known as Galei Tzahal, after an operation spanning 75 years. The unanimous decision by the cabinet, announced on March 4, 2024, will see the station cease broadcasts by March 2025. This move has ignited a fierce backlash from critics who argue it represents an alarming erosion of press freedom in the country.
Army Radio, which operates as a unit of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), is well-known for its comprehensive news coverage, staffed by both soldiers and civilian journalists. Many of these journalists have frequently voiced criticism of the government and military. The decision to shut down the station, proposed by Defense Minister Israel Katz, has raised concerns about the future of independent journalism in Israel.
Katz defended the closure by claiming that Army Radio’s involvement in political programming undermines the military’s neutrality and cohesion. He labeled the station a “democratic anomaly,” arguing that its content has drawn the IDF into political disputes and compromised the army’s unity. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu supported the decision, stating that a military-run broadcaster serving the general public is highly unusual, likening it to media systems in North Korea and a few other nations.
The legal ramifications of this decision are already being contested. Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara contended that the cabinet’s resolution overlooks the implications for freedom of expression and cannot be enacted without legislative support. Critics, including Opposition Leader Yair Lapid, have condemned the government’s actions as a blatant attempt to exert control over the media in an election year.
Journalist unions and media watchdog groups have announced their intentions to challenge the closure in the High Court of Justice. They argue that dismantling Army Radio would eliminate around half of Israel’s independent public news broadcasting. The Israel Democracy Institute has described the move as part of a “broader and worrying pattern of ongoing harm to Israeli democracy,” further highlighting the potential implications for free speech in the country.
In conjunction with the radio station’s closure, the government has extended its authority under the controversial ‘Al Jazeera Law’. This law, initially introduced during the Gaza War, grants the government the power to shut down foreign media outlets operating in Israel if their content is perceived to pose “a concrete threat to national security.”
As the situation unfolds, the decision to close Army Radio continues to draw scrutiny, with advocates for press freedom warning that such actions could have lasting effects on Israeli democracy and the media landscape.
