Ahead of a key High Court of Justice hearing on Wednesday on the legality of the government’s decision to shut down Army Radio, the Attorney-General’s Office on Tuesday submitted a preliminary response warning that the move reflects the convergence of two parallel processes: a long-standing effort to undermine independent journalism, alongside a more recent acceleration in legislative and administrative measures that exert increasing pressure on the media.
The filing states that in recent years these trends have intensified, producing “a growing and tangible impact on the freedom of the press,” and cautions that the steps being advanced do not stand alone. Rather, it explains, they form “part of an organized sequence of governmental actions and parliamentary initiatives” whose cumulative effect threatens to fundamentally alter the conditions under which the media operates in Israel.
The response was submitted ahead of a hearing scheduled for Wednesday morning, the first judicial review of the government’s decision to close Army Radio, a move that has become the latest flashpoint in the escalating clash between the government and legal authorities over institutional independence and democratic norms.
According to the legal advisory, the decision to shut the station was taken without proper legal authority and cannot be implemented through a government resolution alone, as it would require anchoring in primary legislation passed by the Knesset. The filing further argues that the decision “suffers from serious and substantive flaws in both the procedure followed and the judgment exercised,” citing defects in the decision-making process and the failure to adequately weigh constitutional considerations, including freedom of expression and freedom of the press.
Army Radio's unique position in Israel's media landscape
Army Radio, which has operated for more than seven decades under the auspices of the IDF, occupies a unique position in Israel’s media landscape. While formally a part of the military, it functions in practice as a major public news outlet, reaching hundreds of thousands of listeners daily and employing civilian journalists alongside soldiers.
Over the years, the station has been credited with launching the careers of many of Israel’s leading journalists and has played a central role in shaping public discourse.
Critics of the closure argue that the move amounts to an attempt to silence critical journalism under the guise of structural reform, warning that it would remove an influential platform for independent reporting and commentary.
They also note that while debates over the station’s status have surfaced repeatedly over the decades, no previous government has sought its outright closure.
Supporters of the decision, including senior figures in the coalition, contend that a state-backed military broadcaster should not engage in political criticism of the government and argue that the station’s continued operation is inconsistent with its formal mandate. They maintain that the question whether Army Radio should exist at all has been raised under governments of varying political stripes and defense leaderships.
The legal advisory’s position disputes that framing, emphasizing that the current move differs qualitatively from past debates. While the possibility of structural changes has been discussed historically, the filing notes, the complete closure of the station – particularly under current political conditions – raises unprecedented constitutional concerns.
The Attorney-General’s Office ultimately called for the government’s decision to be canceled, warning that allowing it to proceed would set a far-reaching precedent with implications extending well beyond Army Radio itself.