Israel’s defense minister said on Wednesday he planned to close publicly funded Army Radio in what he described as an attempt to preserve the military’s nonpartisan character, but the decision was denounced by the station's chief as a blow to press freedom.
The minister, Israel Katz, said in a statement he would soon submit a proposal to the country's right-wing government to close the station, which is editorially independent, and he expected it to end its broadcasts by 1 March.
Army Radio's chief, Tal Lev Ram, said the move was unexpected and not a professional process that prioritized the interests of soldiers.
"We see this as a real, regrettable, and dramatic blow to the people's army, to Israeli society, and to freedom of the press in a democratic state," he said in a statement.
"I intend to fight this grave decision by every means," he said.
Army Radio is among two state-funded news outlets in Israel, the other being the public broadcaster KAN which operates a television news channel and several radio news stations.
Both are editorially independent of the government.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government has been critical of Army Radio and KAN, sometimes accusing it of being biased against state institutions.
Katz said Army Radio had aired many opinions attacking the military and soldiers. The station is staffed by both soldiers and civilians and is widely popular among the Israeli public. A communications ministry spokesperson declined to comment.
The government has sought to privatise KAN, a move that some critics say is because KAN is critical of the government.
Israeli Opposition Leader Yair Lapid on X condemned the decision to close Army Radio, saying it was driven by "an anxious government that fears criticism". He accused the government of trying to "change the rules of the game" ahead of next year's election.
Israel's journalist union said that it would fight to overturn Katz's "harmful" decision.
It was not immediately clear when Katz would submit the proposal to the entire government.
Public opinion polls frequently show that Netanyahu's coalition, the most right-wing in Israel's history, would not win enough seats to form a government if an election were held today.
U.S. President Donald Trump is addressing the UN General Assembly as world leaders gather in New York for the 81st session. Conflicts in the Middle...
While addressing the 81st session of the UN General Assembly, U.S. President Donald Trump said he believes Washington and Tehran will reach a deal ...
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Kyiv was ready to halt strikes on Russian energy facilities if Moscow stops targeting Ukraine’s ...
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Kyiv was ready to halt strikes on Russian energy facilities if Moscow stops targeting Ukraine’s energy sector, critical infrastructure, and food exports, as he prepared to meet U.S. President Donald Trump in New York.
While addressing the 81st session of the UN General Assembly, U.S. President Donald Trump said he believes Washington and Tehran will reach a deal after the U.S. midterm elections.
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Overnight Russian strikes on the city of Sumy, northeast Ukraine, have killed one woman and injured a man, the country's State Emergency Service has said.
Russian parliamentary elections have delivered a comfortable win to the ruling United Russia party, which is closely aligned to President Vladimir Putin. With more than 95 per cent of ballots counted, United Russia has taken 57.83 per cent of the vote, up from the 49.8 per cent it won in 2021.
A former Rwandan official has appeared in a London court, becoming the first person in the UK to face charges linked to the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Kyiv was ready to halt strikes on Russian energy facilities if Moscow stops targeting Ukraine’s energy sector, critical infrastructure, and food exports, as he prepared to meet U.S. President Donald Trump in New York.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has called for the abolition of veto powers and permanent membership on the United Nations Security Council, proposing a system in which all members would instead be elected for fixed terms.
Survivors of a Nigerian detention centre where 37 people died say guards sprayed an unidentified substance into an overcrowded cell and kept the doors locked while detainees struggled to breathe and cried for help.
Here’s your AnewZ Daily Brief for 22 September 2026. These are five key bilateral and multilateral meetings taking place on the sidelines of the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York.
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