Khaberni - Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz has decided to shut down the Army's national radio, which started broadcasting in 1950, as announced by the radio itself on Wednesday.
The radio, as reported by Israeli media, indicated that the decision includes permanently stopping the broadcast by March 1, 2026, and establishing a professional team within the Ministry of Defense to implement this decision and ensure a smooth transition.
According to statements by Minister Katz, which were reported by the Israeli Broadcasting Corporation "Kan", the "Galei Tzahal" radio was originally established as a military media arm of the government to serve the Israeli army soldiers and their families, considering it as "a loudspeaker for the army and an ear for its soldiers", not as a platform for expressing critical opinions and positions against the army and its elements.
Katz clarified: "The continuation of the radio's operation involves the army, against its will, in political discourse, and causes severe damage to its status as a people's army enjoying broad support across the political and social spectrum."
It is worth noting that the radio is considered one of the most prominent media institutions in Israel, and it is a national radio affiliated with the Defense Army, broadcasting around the clock, offering military and political news bulletins, commentary, traffic status reports, as well as educational and entertainment programs. The radio is funded by the Defense Ministry's budget, in addition to advertising revenues.
