Skip to main content

Israel’s defense minister wants to close Army Radio

Like other defense ministers before him, Benny Gantz wants to rid the ministry of the IDF radio station.
JERUSALEM, ISRAEL - MARCH 20: (ISRAEL OUT) Israeli Acting Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, center, speaks to his media advisor Assi Shariv, left, before he gives an interview to Army Radio personality Razi Barkai at the Ministry of Trade and Industry March 20, 2006 in Jerusalem. One week before Israel's March 28 general elections, Olmert's centrist Kadima party leads its nearest rivals by a nargin of about 2:1 according to opinion polls. (Photo by Uriel Sinai/Getty Images)

Defense Minister Benny Gantz announced Jan. 21 that he plans to remove Army Radio from the auspices of the Ministry of Defense and the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). In his statement, Gantz indicated that he plans to transfer the radio station to some other, independent body or even to shut it down entirely.

IDF Army Radio is a station devoted to regular newscasts and news shows, interspersed with current events, culture and music. It employs entire teams of journalists, editors and commentators, most of them soldiers on their mandatory service. Only a handful of its staff are civilian journalists.

Access the Middle East news and analysis you can trust

Join our community of Middle East readers to experience all of Al-Monitor, including 24/7 news, analyses, memos, reports and newsletters.

Subscribe

Only $100 per year.