The Supreme Court, sitting as the High Court of Justice, unanimously granted the petitions filed against the government’s decision to close the Army Radio station (Galatz) and ordered its cancellation. In the ruling, written by Justice Yechiel Kasher, it was determined that the government acted based on foreign and improper considerations that exceeded its proper authority. Justice Kasher clarified that a decision to close a media outlet due to dissatisfaction with its broadcast content or the political views of its hosts is fundamentally undemocratic.
According to the judge, the government is not authorized to use its power to silence critics. The court noted that while the government may, in principle, examine the station’s future based on substantive grounds, such as separating current events to maintain an apolitical military, the motive in this case was explicitly political. In the reasoning for the ruling, the court emphasized the statements of Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi and Defense Minister Israel Katz, which, according to the justices, evidenced a 'preconceived notion.
' Examples were cited of Minister Karhi’s letter calling for the station’s closure to advance a political agenda, and Minister Katz’s remarks describing the station as hostile to the IDF. The court sharply criticized the composition of the advisory committee established for this purpose. It was determined that the committee was composed of individuals with direct political affiliations to the ruling party and prior prejudice against the station, while excluding professional figures from the IDF or the media industry.
Among others, the participation of Sarah Haetzni-Cohen, identified with organizations that have called for the station’s closure, and Elad Malka, who served in a position of trust at the Ministry of Communications and was included on the Likud party list, was mentioned. Defense Minister Israel Katz responded to the ruling, stating he disagreed with the court’s decision. He argued that the government was authorized to make the decision and declared his intention to revisit the matter after the next elections.
Conversely, representatives for the Galatz workers' committee and the Union of Journalists welcomed the High Court’s decision, noting it as a proper result that protects press freedom from the use of governmental power to silence criticism.