HIBAPRESS
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant announced on Wednesday his decision to permanently close the Israeli army radio station by March 1, 2026, considering that this station harms war efforts and morale. The decision came amid growing criticism from within the security and media establishment in Israel.
Gallant explained in an official statement that the Ministry of Defense will form a professional team to oversee the closure process and support civilian employees in arranging for the termination of their service, while maintaining the continued operation of the "Galgalatz" music station belonging to the radio. He added that he would soon present the decision to the government for ratification. The minister affirmed that operating a station with a civilian character by the army constitutes an unprecedented phenomenon in any country, stressing that the decision aims to preserve the non-partisan character of the Israeli army. He said that the army radio was established to be a voice for soldiers and their families, but it has turned into a platform for views that attack the army and harm morale, pointing out that some of its messages were interpreted as if they came from the army itself. The decision sparked widespread controversy in Israel, as the radio station, which was established in 1950, is a prominent media institution that combined military character and civilian content, which always made it the focus of discussion about its affiliation with the army or an independent civilian body. Former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant had canceled in September 2023 a plan to close or privatize the station, and pledged to reform it and appoint a permanent military leadership for it. However, the Minister of Communications Shlomo Karhi called in March 2025 for its closure, supported by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, considering that it had turned into a political platform instead of a means to raise the morale of the soldiers. The Journalists Union in Israel responded with harsh criticism of the decision, vowing to confront it legally, and considering that closing the radio station constitutes an infringement on freedom of expression and media independence.
