Defense Minister Israel Katz announced on Wednesday that he intends to bring a government resolution to close Israel Defense Forces Radio (Galei Tzahal) by March 1, 2026, following the recommendations of a committee he appointed earlier this year. The popular music channel Galei Galatz would be excluded from the closure.
The announcement immediately triggered a labor dispute declared by the IDF Workers’ Organization within the Histadrut, affecting the roughly 100 civilian employees of the station.
Committee Recommends Closure
The move follows the findings of a Defense Ministry committee that examined the station’s structure, operations, and relevance to modern military communication. The panel—originally chaired by Maj. Gen. (res.) Yiftach Ron-Tal, who later resigned over a conflict of interest—concluded that the station’s current operations “harm the status of the IDF as the people’s army” and that its involvement in current affairs and political issues “creates public controversy.”
The committee examined various models for reform, including transferring Galei Tzahal to civilian management or merging it with an existing media outlet. But it ultimately rejected partial reform options, stating that removing current affairs content would be “legally and operationally problematic.”
“The main advantage of closing the station,” the committee wrote, “is that it provides certainty for implementation.”
The panel’s composition—Elad Malka, Sara Haetzni-Cohen, Dr. Dalia Zelikowitz, and Yonatan Ben Hamo—has drawn criticism from media and labor representatives, who say its members were ideologically aligned with Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi, a vocal advocate of closing the station.
Katz: “Decision Based on Committee’s Findings”
Katz’s decision reverses the stance of a previous Defense Ministry committee, led by Eyal Zamir (then Director General, now IDF Chief of Staff), which in 2022 recommended keeping Galei Tzahal open with internal reforms.
The Defense Minister said the new plan reflects a need to redefine the army’s role in civilian broadcasting.
However, insiders say the decision was made without giving the station’s management a chance to respond to the new committee’s report.
Galei Tzahal Commander: “A Blow to Democracy”
Station commander Tal Lev-Ram reacted sharply, calling the move “a shocking surprise” and accusing the ministry of predetermining the outcome.
“We received the announcement as a complete surprise, without being allowed to address the report,” Lev-Ram said. “The committee suffered from conflicts of interest, biased membership, and manipulation of information. The choice to close the station after two years of unprecedented work during wartime is not a professional decision—it’s a political one.”
“This is a regrettable and dramatic harm to the people’s army, to Israeli society, and to freedom of the press in a democratic state,” he added. “I intend to fight this decision in every way possible.”
Labor and Journalists’ Unions React
Following Katz’s announcement, the IDF Workers’ Organization declared a formal labor dispute, arguing that the ministry is violating previous agreements reached after the Zamir Committee’s review.
“The government is acting in bad faith,” the union said. “The Legal Advisor to the Government ruled that the new committee should not submit recommendations before a legal review of alleged flaws in its formation. Despite this, the ministry rushed forward.”
The Journalists’ Association also issued a strong statement:
“Katz will not close a media outlet in the State of Israel. This foolish decision will be fought until it is overturned. Galei Tzahal will not be silenced.”
Critics Question Political Motivation
Media observers note that the latest committee was formed only two years after the Zamir Committee found Galei Tzahal’s operations to be valuable to Israeli democracy and public discourse. The new panel’s composition—featuring figures linked to the Kohelet Forum and right-leaning media—has raised suspicions that the outcome was predetermined.
Critics argue the decision is part of a broader government effort to curb independent journalism and reduce the army’s cultural footprint in civilian life.
Analysis: End of an Era?
Founded in 1950, Galei Tzahal (Army Radio) has long been one of Israel’s most influential media outlets, known for blending military service with journalism and for launching the careers of many leading reporters. Its closure would mark the end of a 75-year-old national institution that served as both a training ground for journalists and a cultural bridge between soldiers and civilians.
If Katz’s plan moves forward, Galei Tzahal will go off the air by March 2026 — unless public and political pressure forces the government to reconsider.
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