Once again Galei Tzahal (Army Radio) is under the scrutiny, this time for a new program dedicated to providing airtime to Arab poet Mahmoud Darwish, who is known for his anti-Israel nationalist views.
Galei Tzahal often comes under criticism by the religious and right-wing camps as it has become a bastion of leftist anti-religious programing. There have been calls to shut the station down, especially as the IDF is straining to implement an austerity plan – seeking places to implement cuts.
Minister of Culture & Sport (Likud) Miri Regev has already spoken out against the program, citing the army’s station enjoys state funding and therefore, it should not be giving a platform to such an individual. She questions how the station would permit giving a platform to one who glorifies anti-Israel activities and speaks openly against the State of Israel.
Regev calls on Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman to address the matter.
Lieberman on Wednesday morning 14 Tammuz summoned the director of the IDF radio station for a meeting to explain the decision.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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3 Responses
Miri is correct: why give money to those who wish to destroy us and all in the name of liberalism?
There’s certainly enough anti-israel media ,we don’t need state-funded treason aired, in some sort of distorted political correctness.
1. Galei tzahal is an important station. Its programming includes programs that specifically address issues of the military and of individual soldiers in a way that no civilian station ever would.
2. Galei tzahal has had a long string of left-wing administrators who have hired left-wing talent. The solution is quite simple: hire administrators without prominent political agendas, or at least politically diverse moderates, who will in turn hire politically diverse talent.
3. Galei tzahal is a military channel. Familiarizing the military with the opinions and aspirations of the opponent is sensible.