Israel Shuts Down Army Radio In Move Critics Call Threat
December 22, 2025
9:10 am
Israel’s cabinet voted on Monday to close Army Radio, a nationally known broadcaster that has operated since the country’s early years, intensifying concerns among critics who say Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition is weakening democratic institutions and press freedom.
The decision, proposed by Defense Minister Israel Katz, sets a deadline of March 1, 2026, for the station to cease operations. Katz said the move was necessary to preserve the Israel Defense Forces as a non political body and prevent the military from being associated with public debate.
Katz said Army Radio was originally created to serve Israeli soldiers but …
