The Israeli army silences him after he shuts down his station over political programming

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Israeli Defense Minister Yisrael Katz announced the closure of the Israeli Army Radio and the suspension of its broadcasts by March 1 next year.

The station, which began broadcasting in 1950 as “the voice of the soldiers,” has in recent years featured numerous political programs critical of both the government and the army itself.

The Israeli government has openly stated that it does not tolerate media criticism directed at it.

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Katz acknowledged that his decision stemmed from the station’s increasing focus on political content and its criticism of the government.

In a statement, he said: “The Israeli government established Army Radio as a military station, intended to serve as the voice and ear of Israeli soldiers and their families—not as a platform for opinions, many of which attack the Israeli army and its soldiers.”

He added: “The operation of a civilian-style radio station by the army is an anomaly unparalleled in any democratic country in the world.”

However, he continued: “Keeping the station running involves the Israeli army, against its will, in political discourse, seriously damaging its image as the people’s army and its institutional identity.”

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Katz further noted: “From the 1950s until today, many defense ministers and chiefs of staff have explored various options to close the station, remove it from the defense establishment, or privatize it, but none of these initiatives ever materialized.”

Criticizing the station’s performance, he added: “Over the past two years, and throughout the war, many soldiers and civilians, including bereaved families, have complained that the station does not represent them, and that it harms the war effort and morale. Even worse, our enemies interpret such messages as if they came directly from the Israeli army.”

The minister continued: “I intend to present the decision to close the station to the government soon. This is a necessary step to preserve the identity of the Israeli army and strengthen public confidence in it.”

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According to the Israeli Defense Ministry, Katz will soon submit an official proposal to the government to shut down Army Radio, in accordance with established procedures.

He added: “The defense minister intends to issue an order to stop the station’s broadcasts by March 1, 2026, and to form a specialized team within the Defense Ministry to oversee the implementation of the decision.”

The statement continued: “The implementation team will handle all aspects related to ending Army Radio’s operations, particularly assisting the civilian employees of the Defense Ministry who work for the station to conclude their employment under appropriate arrangements, while safeguarding their rights.”

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