The Israeli government on Monday approved plans to shut down one of the country’s prestigious military radio stations, claiming it broadcasts “divisive material” that is not in line with military values.
Established in 1950 and staffed by both military and civilian personnel, galei tzahal (literally: “Waves of the IDF”) is Israel’s third most popular radio station with about 18% market share.
Despite its inherent ties to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), galei tzahal (abbreviated as GLZ) is distinguished for impartial journalism, reliable information and public debate. Thus, it also broadcasts programs that are critical of the Israeli government and the IDF, thus bringing it to the attention of Defense Minister Israel Katz.
“Over the past two years, throughout the war, many soldiers and civilians, including bereaved families, have repeatedly complained that they feel the station does not represent them, and that it also undermines the war effort and morale,” Katz said in justifying his proposal to close the station.
He accused GLZ of broadcasting “political and divisive material that is not in line with the values of the Israeli military” and claimed that “a situation in which a radio station for all civilians is operated by the military is an anomaly that does not exist in democratic countries.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu urged ministers to support Katz’s proposal, saying: “There have been repeated proposals for a long time to remove Katz.” galei tzahal From the military structure, eliminate it, or privatize it.”
He claimed that only “North Korea and probably some other countries” have public news radio stations controlled by the military. “And we certainly don’t want to be like them,” Netanyahu stressed.
‘They can’t control reality, so they try to control the mind’
The Israeli opposition has condemned the move and accused Netanyahu’s government of attempting to curb freedom of speech and control the media ahead of elections in October 2026.
Opposition leader Yair Lapid warned of the closure of other critical media outlets, writing, “They can’t control reality, so they try to control the mind.”
“They won’t stop,” he added. “Wherever there is a truth that is inconvenient to the government, they take action to eliminate it.”
Israeli television station i24news told that the head of galei tzahalTal Lev-Ram intends to challenge the decision in the Supreme Court.
Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara, who also serves as the government’s legal adviser and is currently facing dismissal proceedings initiated by Netanyahu, said the move “raises questions regarding infringements on freedom of expression and the press” and “raises concerns about potential political interference in public broadcasting.”
His office said closing the station would require a vote in parliament, while an assessment seen by the AFP news agency said the decision “does not meet the necessary legal criteria and cannot be taken forward in its current form.”
Edited by: Dmytro Lyubenko