"... Following today's Cabinet meeting, in which we were asked to jointly examine the issue at hand, and by virtue of my authority under Sections 88 and 90 of the Israel Broadcasting Corporation Law with regard to programs that are not military programs, I turn to you out of faith in our partnership to advance together an important and necessary move: the closure of the military radio station Galei Tzahal, while implementing the liberal right-wing agenda that we share. Army Radio, which was originally established as a military station for support and connection with IDF soldiers, has long since become a political stronghold, detached from its original purpose. Criticism of IDF soldiers and ongoing damage to the values of national cohesion during wartime have become routine. It is unlikely that in a democratic country there will be a military radio station, certainly one that is political, which, instead of being the "home of the soldiers, " lowers their spirits. Our fighters return from the battlefield and are forced to hear content that not only does not support them, but sometimes harshly criticizes their actions" (Appendix 16 to the Movement for Quality Government's petition; Emphasis added - 10:20).
- It is easy to discern two main motifs that stand out in this important letter: First, the predetermined outcome of the proceeding, which Minister Karei Gemar says must be achieved even before the proceeding begins. This is what emerges from the title of the letter: "Re: Closing IDF Radio and Privatizing the Frequencies"; The same is true of the body of the letter: "Together to advance a proper and necessary step: the closure of the military radio station Galei Tzahal"; Towards its end, "I call on you to bring the decision to the government for approval as soon as possible, while formulating the necessary arrangements for the immediate closure of the station."
The secondThe reason for the closure of the Army Radio station, as it emerges from the letter itself, is open, explicit and clear: the station "It has long since become a political stronghold", and in the view of the minister who tore the station, "Instead of being the 'soldiers' home, ' it lowers their spirits". These words are a clear expression of the improper consideration as defined above: a decision to close a broadcasting station not for practical reasons - budgetary, organizational, or for reasons of maintaining the statehood of the broadcasting body - but due to dissatisfaction with the content broadcast therein and identifications as being in line with the position of an opposing political camp.