The High Court of Justice in Israel will hear petitions against the government's decision to close Army Radio, with Attorney-General Gali Baharav-Miara arguing that the closure poses a broader threat to free press. The case raises questions about the decision-making process and its implications for independent journalism in Israel.

• 01Army Radio, known as Galatz, reaches nearly one million listeners daily and is considered part of Israel's public broadcasting system.
• 02The decision to close Galatz was made by Defense Minister Israel Katz, following recommendations from an advisory committee.
• 03Attorney-General Baharav-Miara argues that such a significant change in the media landscape should be legislated through the Knesset.
• 04The closure could lead to job losses for 84 civilian workers and has raised concerns about the government's treatment of critical media outlets.
• 05The court's focus will be on whether the government conducted a proper administrative process before deciding to shut down a national broadcaster.

The closure of Army Radio could significantly affect the media landscape in Israel, limiting public access to diverse news sources and impacting the livelihoods of its employees.