Katz orders immediate steps to wind down Army Radio after cabinet approval of closure

Following the cabinet’s unanimous vote to shut down Army Radio, Defense Minister Israel Katz orders the IDF to begin immediate steps toward winding down the station’s operations, including halting all recruitment and reassigning soldiers currently serving there.

According to Katz’s office, the defense minister has contacted IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir to instruct the military to immediately stop all selection processes for Army Radio and to cease assigning soldiers to the unit, both in mandatory service and in the reserves. Katz also orders preparations to begin for ending the service of soldiers currently stationed at the broadcaster and for their gradual reassignment to other IDF units, with priority given to combat and combat-support roles.

Katz further directs the Defense Ministry’s director general, Maj. Gen. Amir Baram, to assist civilian IDF employees working at the station and to terminate their employment under arrangements that are “as appropriate as possible” and in accordance with the law. In parallel, the defense minister orders the cancellation of all of the station’s contracts, including agreements with civilian journalists, as well as steps to end the station’s use of its facilities.

The Defense Ministry says all measures are to be completed by February 15, 2026, in order to finalize the closure of Army Radio and end its broadcasts by March 1, 2026, in line with the government decision approved today.