Israeli government targets second-most popular radio station

Israel’s defense minister, Israel Katz, announced plans to close the publicly funded Army Radio to maintain the military’s “nonpartisan” character. The station’s chief, Tal Lev Ram, condemned the decision as a threat to press freedom, calling it a blow to Israeli society and the people’s army. The closure, expected by March 1, has sparked criticism over its impact on editorial independence, as FRANCE 24’s Noga Tarnopolosky explains.