Or Yissachar is an Israeli national security and Middle East researcher, an Iran expert and Farsi speaker, who serves as the Israel Defense and Security Forum (IDSF-Habithonistim)’s Director of Research.
Or has been publishing extensive research papers on various topics regarding Israel’s security, including a strategic assessment for Israel; Iran’s nuclear program and terrorist activities; the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, including social media research among Palestinians and plans for the future of Gaza; Disinformation in the Israel-Hamas war; Middle East security developments; the United States and its defense doctrine; and the European Union’s approach to Israel, migration, and geopolitical changes; among others.
He regularly briefs Israeli decision-makers, including Prime Minister Netanyahu, Defense Ministers Katz and Gallant, various cabinet ministers, leading figures in the IDF and other agencies of the defense establishment, and members of the Knesset. He also authors papers in response to queries by the above officials.
Or served in the IDF’s Intelligence Corps’ 8200 unit as an intelligence analyst.
Or graduated from Tel Aviv University with a Bachelor’s degree in Arts and Music focusing on piano performance and musicology, and in that capacity performed on stages in Israel, the United States, and around Europe. He was awarded several prizes, including first prizes for piano performance and composition.
He has also graduated from SciencesPo’s Paris School of International Affairs with a Master’s degree in International Security, focusing on the European Union and its defense policy. He worked for several think tanks, including Israel’s INSS and Austria’s AIES.
Or served as a team leader and data analyst in the Israeli high-tech industry, including for the companies Wix, Meidata, and ActiveFence, where he filed extensive reports, lead multilingual teams, and coordinated multiple organizational functions to a cohesive team strategy, action, and reporting.
Or published multiple policy and defense-related articles and analyses in leading publications, including Newsweek, Israel Hayom, Ynet, JNS, the Jerusalem Post; and is regularly interviewed in leading news channels, including CBN, the BBC, Sky News, Israel’s channels 11, 12, 13, 14, and i24news, ILTV, CNews, Bild, RTE, Hungarian Conservative, among others. He also interviewed for local stations and podcasts in the United States.
He hosts the IDSF’s “Security Talk” podcast and was a guest in multiple podcasts in Hebrew, English, and French.
Or lives in Jerusalem and speaks five languages – native Hebrew, native-level proficiency in English, French, Persian, and Arabic.
Photo credit: Michael Pavia
