Defense Minister Israel Katz announced on Thursday morning that he has decided to establish an advisory committee to examine the activities of Army Radio.
The committee, which will review the station’s future, will be chaired by retired Maj.-Gen. Yiftach Ron-Tal.
The Defense Ministry stated that the committee is required to submit its conclusions and recommendations within 90 days, and will examine, among other things, the feasibility, advantages, and disadvantages of various operational options for Army Radio, including the possibility of transferring its management to a civilian body or merging it with an external media organization.
The committee will also consider the advantages and disadvantages of maintaining its connection to the IDF or keeping it as a military unit, the implications of possibly shutting down the station on Israel's radio broadcasting market, recommended multi-year work objectives for the station, and the qualifications and criteria required for the position of Army Radio Station Commander, should the committee recommend keeping the station as a military unit.
"At this time, when the State of Israel is engaged in an ongoing campaign in several fronts, it is necessary to reassess how well Army Radio fulfills its mission, and whether it succeeds in being the voice and ears for IDF soldiers and fighters at the front and in the home front," Katz said.
"There is no doubt that a comprehensive and significant change is needed, and I intend to implement it after receiving the committee's recommendations."
MKs have tried to closed the station in the past
This is not the first time that the government, or previous governments, have tried to close the military station. In fact, about six months ago, MK Nissim Vaturi from the Likud Party proposed a bill to privatize the military station through a tender process, which would be managed by the Second Authority for Television and Radio.
According to the proposal, the new station would not receive public funding, and there would be no connection between it and the IDF. As a result of the proposed arrangement, Army Radio would become the first private radio station in Israel with nationwide coverage.
Additionally, at the end of March, after the prime minister spoke out against the Kan 11 Broadcasting Corporation during a cabinet meeting, Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi presented a proposal to Katz to close Army Radio.
"I urge you to bring the attached government decision to close Army Radio and privatize the frequencies to the free market," he wrote on the social network X/Twitter.
"Army Radio has long become a political stronghold, disconnected from its original purpose. Criticism of IDF soldiers and the continued harm to national cohesion values during wartime has become routine. Our soldiers return from the battlefield and are forced to hear content that harshly criticizes their actions."
In the same meeting, Netanyahu asked: "Why do we even need a military station? The Defense Minister and Communications Minister need to examine the matter of Army Radio."
An illegitimate move intended to intimidate
The Journalists' Association responded to the news, stating that this was an illegitimate move aimed at intimidating the station and the journalistic work carried out within it.
The organization stated: "Over the past years, several committees have examined IDF Radio and all concluded that there is immense importance in its existence and continued operation under the IDF Education Corps. The step taken by the Defense Minister in establishing the committee is unnecessary and intended to create deterrence for the station and the journalists working there from engaging in its functioning and voicing criticism against it."
"The Journalists' Association appeared before the previous committees and presented a professional position on the matter. Should the new committee indeed be established, we will once again present our position."