Israeli Defense Minister Proposes Closure of Army Radio by March 2026
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz has announced plans to close Army Radio, a military-run national radio station, by March 1, 2026. Katz intends to submit this proposal for government approval, aiming to terminate the station's broadcasts and establish a professional team within the Defense Ministry to oversee the shutdown. Army Radio, staffed largely by soldiers, has been a mainstream national news and culture outlet. Katz argues that the station was originally intended to serve as a communication platform for IDF soldiers and their families, rather than a venue for opinions that criticize the IDF. In August, Katz formed a committee to review the station's operations, which many media observers believed was a precursor to its closure.