Analysis | In a Democratic Country, Media Outlets Are Not Shut Down
There may indeed be a certain anomaly in a military-owned radio station that deals with politics, where young uniformed reporters interview party leaders, members of Knesset, and government ministers. But this anomaly has existed and operated for nearly 70 years
IDF combatants in action. Photo: IDF Spokesperson’s Unit
The war in Gaza is intensifying, hostages are still held in tunnels, the Houthis launch daily attacks, and there are strikes in Beirut — yet the Israeli Minister of Defense, Israel Katz, has found time to deal with an issue that supposedly threatens the nation’s security: the future of the IDF radio station, Galei Tzahal (Hebrew for “IDF Waves”).
Minister Katz surely knows he is not the first. Many of his predecessors and former IDF Chiefs of Staff have solemnly declared they would shut down Galei Tzahal for a thousand and one reasons. Yet, the station lives on — vibrant, kicking, and broadcasting.
There may be a certain anomaly in a military-owned radio station that deals with politics, with young uniformed reporters interviewing party leaders, Knesset members, and ministers. But this anomaly has existed and operated successfully for about 70 years. It is a popular station, especially among youth and young adults — but not only them. Galei Tzahal is also a training ground for many of Israel’s top journalists and radio professionals. Numerous TV stars began their careers in the old station building in Jaffa.
In a democratic country, media outlets — broadcast stations — are not shut down. Closing a station is silencing the press, a tactic used by dictatorships that seek to control what is written, spoken, and aired. If the regime doesn’t like the content — they close it.
Katz did not announce the closure of Galei Tzahal. But if anyone fears this might be a long-term goal — why is the Minister suddenly taking up the issue now? It’s unclear. Today, no one can claim, as was done in the past, that Army Radio is a left-leaning Tel Aviv “elites’ station.” The station has undergone sweeping changes. Its news programs, political content, and talk shows maintain a balance between right and left, and include broadcasts on tradition and religion alongside many hours of Israeli and international music.
Katz suddenly declared that “there is no doubt that a comprehensive and significant change is needed, and I intend to implement it after receiving the committee’s recommendations.” An advisory committee was established “to examine Galei Tzahal’s operations,” headed by Major General (res.) Yiftach Ron-Tal, a senior and highly respected officer and former CEO of the Israel Electric Corporation. However, he has no experience in journalism or broadcasting, and he is now one of the stars of Channel 14 — a TV station with a clear political orientation. A question for the Defense Minister: wouldn’t it have been more appropriate to appoint someone who is politically neutral — an experienced journalist and radio professional — to head the committee deciding the station’s future?
Qualifications and Standards
For 70 years, no change has been made to Galei Tzahal’s status, and suddenly it’s urgent — with the Minister set to receive the committee’s conclusions within 90 days. The urgency itself raises suspicions and concerns about the station’s future. The committee’s guidelines include several points: evaluating the possibility of transferring the station to civilian control or merging it with an external media organization; weighing the pros and cons of keeping it affiliated with the IDF or as a military unit.
One clause this week raised alarm among media outlets committed to press freedom and media plurality: the committee is instructed to examine “the possible implications of shutting down the station on Israel’s radio broadcasting market.” In other words, the committee has also been tasked with considering the option of closure.
A critical clause in the guidelines: the qualifications and standards required for the position of station commander, if it remains a military unit. The ideal commander for a media entity like Galei Tzahal should be someone who combines military leadership experience — preferably from a combat unit — with a professional journalism background, proven accomplishments, and deep knowledge of the IDF’s structure and the functioning of the General Staff. That is the profile of a Galei Tzahal commander. Indeed, the station’s past commanders embodied various mixes of these traits, each contributing uniquely to the station’s character and content.
The Defense Minister said the committee must “reassess whether Galei Tzahal fulfills its mission and serves as a voice and ear for IDF soldiers and fighters on the front and rear.” Well, Galei Tzahal reporters have long accompanied IDF units in times of calm and war — including the current conflict. They have followed combat brigades in every war Israel has fought: the Six-Day War, Yom Kippur, the War of Attrition, terror attacks, security events, and cross-border operations. The Galei Tzahal microphone has always been there — to this day, in Gaza and on other fronts.
The war in Gaza is intensifying, hostages are still held in tunnels, the Houthis launch daily attacks, and there are strikes in Beirut — yet the Israeli Minister of Defense, Israel Katz, has found time to deal with an issue that supposedly threatens the nation’s security: the future of the IDF radio station, Galei Tzahal (Hebrew for “IDF Waves”).
Minister Katz surely knows he is not the first. Many of his predecessors and former IDF Chiefs of Staff have solemnly declared they would shut down Galei Tzahal for a thousand and one reasons. Yet, the station lives on — vibrant, kicking, and broadcasting.
There may be a certain anomaly in a military-owned radio station that deals with politics, with young uniformed reporters interviewing party leaders, Knesset members, and ministers. But this anomaly has existed and operated successfully for about 70 years. It is a popular station, especially among youth and young adults — but not only them. Galei Tzahal is also a training ground for many of Israel’s top journalists and radio professionals. Numerous TV stars began their careers in the old station building in Jaffa.
In a democratic country, media outlets — broadcast stations — are not shut down. Closing a station is silencing the press, a tactic used by dictatorships that seek to control what is written, spoken, and aired. If the regime doesn’t like the content — they close it.
Katz did not announce the closure of Galei Tzahal. But if anyone fears this might be a long-term goal — why is the Minister suddenly taking up the issue now? It’s unclear. Today, no one can claim, as was done in the past, that Army Radio is a left-leaning Tel Aviv “elites’ station.” The station has undergone sweeping changes. Its news programs, political content, and talk shows maintain a balance between right and left, and include broadcasts on tradition and religion alongside many hours of Israeli and international music.
Katz suddenly declared that “there is no doubt that a comprehensive and significant change is needed, and I intend to implement it after receiving the committee’s recommendations.” An advisory committee was established “to examine Galei Tzahal’s operations,” headed by Major General (res.) Yiftach Ron-Tal, a senior and highly respected officer and former CEO of the Israel Electric Corporation. However, he has no experience in journalism or broadcasting, and he is now one of the stars of Channel 14 — a TV station with a clear political orientation. A question for the Defense Minister: wouldn’t it have been more appropriate to appoint someone who is politically neutral — an experienced journalist and radio professional — to head the committee deciding the station’s future?
Qualifications and Standards
For 70 years, no change has been made to Galei Tzahal’s status, and suddenly it’s urgent — with the Minister set to receive the committee’s conclusions within 90 days. The urgency itself raises suspicions and concerns about the station’s future. The committee’s guidelines include several points: evaluating the possibility of transferring the station to civilian control or merging it with an external media organization; weighing the pros and cons of keeping it affiliated with the IDF or as a military unit.
One clause this week raised alarm among media outlets committed to press freedom and media plurality: the committee is instructed to examine “the possible implications of shutting down the station on Israel’s radio broadcasting market.” In other words, the committee has also been tasked with considering the option of closure.
A critical clause in the guidelines: the qualifications and standards required for the position of station commander, if it remains a military unit. The ideal commander for a media entity like Galei Tzahal should be someone who combines military leadership experience — preferably from a combat unit — with a professional journalism background, proven accomplishments, and deep knowledge of the IDF’s structure and the functioning of the General Staff. That is the profile of a Galei Tzahal commander. Indeed, the station’s past commanders embodied various mixes of these traits, each contributing uniquely to the station’s character and content.
The Defense Minister said the committee must “reassess whether Galei Tzahal fulfills its mission and serves as a voice and ear for IDF soldiers and fighters on the front and rear.” Well, Galei Tzahal reporters have long accompanied IDF units in times of calm and war — including the current conflict. They have followed combat brigades in every war Israel has fought: the Six-Day War, Yom Kippur, the War of Attrition, terror attacks, security events, and cross-border operations. The Galei Tzahal microphone has always been there — to this day, in Gaza and on other fronts.
There Is Room for Change
We randomly chose the station's schedule from June 6, 2025, to show the variety of programming on a typical day, from morning to night.
On this single day, Galei Tzahal broadcast news, a studio debate between opposing political views to ensure balance, conversations with soldiers, religious and traditional content, Israeli music, literary and cultural programs, and a Shabbat ceremony. This is the content absorbed by Galei Tzahal’s audience — young or old, soldier or civilian — on an ordinary day. The variety appears to match the tastes of most listeners. The station definitely “served as an ear to IDF soldiers and fighters on the front and rear,” as the Minister said.
No one claims there’s no room for change, improvements, stylistic shifts, or innovations at the station. That’s exactly the role of every commander from day one on the job — and indeed, changes have been made in the past. Radio broadcasting is also a matter of taste. If you like a program — you keep listening. If not — you switch stations.
The greatest concern among professionals is the intrusion of politics into Galei Tzahal. We are in turbulent times, with the Communications Minister threatening “reforms in the media market.” Galei Tzahal itself has seen deep political interference in its broadcasts in the past — from very specific directions. Thankfully, that has ended. It must not happen again. In a democratic society, you don’t silence voices by shutting down media outlets. You don’t shut down Galei Tzahal.
We randomly chose the station's schedule from June 6, 2025, to show the variety of programming on a typical day, from morning to night.
On this single day, Galei Tzahal broadcast news, a studio debate between opposing political views to ensure balance, conversations with soldiers, religious and traditional content, Israeli music, literary and cultural programs, and a Shabbat ceremony. This is the content absorbed by Galei Tzahal’s audience — young or old, soldier or civilian — on an ordinary day. The variety appears to match the tastes of most listeners. The station definitely “served as an ear to IDF soldiers and fighters on the front and rear,” as the Minister said.
No one claims there’s no room for change, improvements, stylistic shifts, or innovations at the station. That’s exactly the role of every commander from day one on the job — and indeed, changes have been made in the past. Radio broadcasting is also a matter of taste. If you like a program — you keep listening. If not — you switch stations.
The greatest concern among professionals is the intrusion of politics into Galei Tzahal. We are in turbulent times, with the Communications Minister threatening “reforms in the media market.” Galei Tzahal itself has seen deep political interference in its broadcasts in the past — from very specific directions. Thankfully, that has ended. It must not happen again. In a democratic society, you don’t silence voices by shutting down media outlets. You don’t shut down Galei Tzahal.