At first the only stations to be heard were distant ones, by short-wave from Europe such as Radio Paris and BBC Empire Service, and medium wave from Cairo. It was in about 1930 that radio antennas could first be seen on homes in Palestine and sets went on sale in city stores. Before TV and a multiplicity of radio stations came along, at night in any town or city street the voice of the Kol Israel radio news announcer could be heard emanating from every window around. With radio so prominent in the collective memory it has a special place in people's affections as so often it was used in order to follow important events affecting their lives, and still when the hourly news comes on the radio people stop whatever they are doing whether in shops, on buses (all fitted with radios) or in the street. The Jews effectively used clandestine radio, and today though pirate radio is against the law some people still retain a sentimental feeling towards a medium that was so important in the formation of the nation. In the pre-state period, all sides in the conflict used radio to disseminate information, deliberate mis-information and propaganda. In times of national emergency radio was, and still is, used to call up troops. Virtually the whole population was glued to radio sets at events such as the news of the United Nations vote on the partition of Palestine in 1947. Throughout the history of the country, radio has been the conveyor of important information at critical moments. Israel Society & Culture: Table of Contents| Dance| Theatre & Film
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