After 75 Years, IDF’s Army Radio Faces Closure Under Defense Minister Katz

After more than seven decades on the airwaves, Israel's Army Radio Galei Tzahal is now slated for closure.

Defense Minister Israel Katz announced Wednesday his intention to bring a proposal before the government to formally shut down the military-operated radio station by March 1, 2026. The move, Katz says, is aimed at restoring the non-political character of the Israel Defense Forces and preserving its standing as the “people’s army.”

Originally created to serve IDF soldiers and their families, Army Radio has evolved into a national broadcaster with a wide civilian audience and political commentary a shift Katz says is incompatible with its founding mission.

“Army Radio was established... to serve as a mouthpiece and an ear for IDF soldiers and their families not as a platform for voicing opinions, many of which attack the IDF and the IDF soldiers themselves,” Katz said in his statement. “What was is not what will be.”

Katz noted that the operation of a civilian-style news station by the military is an international anomaly, with no equivalent in any other democratic country. He pointed to growing concerns from soldiers, bereaved families, and civilians who feel that the station has, at times, undermined morale and even hurt the war effort during ongoing conflicts.

The decision follows a rapid review by a Defense Ministry committee, which concluded that the station’s involvement in news and current affairs broadcasts compromises the IDF’s perceived neutrality. The committee recommended two options: transforming the station into a non-political “Soldiers’ Home” model with music and short updates only, or shutting it down completely. The latter was selected.

Galgalatz, the IDF’s second station which focuses solely on music and traffic updates, will remain operational in its current format.

Katz also promised a careful and dignified transition process for the station’s civilian employees, ensuring fair employment terms as operations wind down.

While the move has drawn criticism from some legal experts concerned about freedom of the press, Katz dismissed the claims, stating that the military’s involvement in mainstream media is precisely what poses the greater risk to democratic norms. “This is the necessary step to preserve the state character of the IDF and strengthen public trust in it,” he affirmed.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has not yet publicly responded, though legal advisors have already flagged potential constitutional challenges. Still, the momentum behind Katz’s decision appears strong, with formal government approval expected soon.

For 75 years, Army Radio played a unique role in Israel’s national conversation. Its closure marks the end of an era but also a reaffirmation of the IDF’s core mission: defending the Jewish state, not debating its politics.

Support Israel’s values. Share this article and subscribe to our newsletter for more updates that matter to the heart of the nation.