Yohanan Plesner, at The Blogs

Yohanan Plesner

Jan 1, 2026, 1:08 PM

Repairing Israel’s social fabric in 2026

Israelis celebrate the New Year on New Year’s Eve in Tel Aviv, December 31, 2025. Photo by Avshalom Sassoni/Flash90

In the lull between the Gaza ceasefire and a contentious election, we must confront the questions that will shape our future – including the ones that divide us

Aug 5, 2025, 4:41 PM

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The hidden lesson of Israel’s victory over Iran

Passengers wait in a line to enter a flight to Israel, at the Eleftherios Venizelos International Airport in Athens, Greece, October 10, 2023. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)

The two countries have plenty in common, but Israel has a national security asset that the Islamic Republic will never have

May 1, 2025, 7:45 PM

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Israelis are united. When will our leadership follow suit?

Demonstrators wave large Israeli flag during a protest against plans by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government to overhaul the judicial system, outside the Knesset, in Jerusalem, Monday, July 24, 2023. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg)

Consensus is strong on a slew of security, governance and domestic issues – but politicians are sticking to their divisive tactics

Feb 3, 2025, 3:37 PM

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An Israeli republic, if we can keep it

Illustrative. The signing of the US Constitution, as depicted in 'Foundation of the American Government,' by John Henry Hintermeister, in 1925. At the desk sits George Washington, watching Gouverneur Morris sign. Behind Morris are Roger Sherman, Benjamin Franklin, Robert Morris, James Madison, and others, and at right, Alexander Hamilton, and Edmund Randolf (Wikipedia). It was after the moments depicted here that Benjamin Franklin made his famous comment about the privilege of a republic.

Israel must not squander its opportunity for much needed renewal, but first the people need to weigh in and choose a consensual mechanism of constitutional reform

Oct 10, 2024, 2:04 PM

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The two alliances Israel needs now

Demonstrators clash with police during a protest calling for the release of Israeli hostages held in the Gaza Strip and against the current Israeli government near Hakirya Base in Tel Aviv, May 11, 2024. (Itai Ron/ Flash90)

To achieve stability and prosperity, the country needs international partners and an internal coalition that will help us get it right this time

May 27, 2024, 4:02 PM

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A missed historic opportunity: The Haredi military exemption law

Ultra-Orthodox Jews outside an army recruitment office in Jerusalem, March 4, 2024. (Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)

This government is rehashing a weak proposal that was meant to be temporary and drawn up before the war changed everything

Apr 26, 2023, 3:39 PM

Let’s heed the prophets of Israel

The Declaration of Independence expresses a deep commitment to freedom, justice and peace in the spirit of the vision of the Biblical prophets, those semi-tragic figures who rebuked the people and their leaders for their behavior. Or in other...

Jun 9, 2022, 10:55 AM

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Out with the people’s army, in with the hybrid army

Illustrative: For the first time exposed to the camera; soldiers of the operational unit 8200 training in the field. Sep 11 2012. (Moshe Shai/Flash90)

The IDF’s universal draft has long been a charade, and a purely professional volunteer army won't work. Here's how Israel can meet the security needs of tomorrow

Oct 31, 2021, 1:37 PM

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The climate crisis: An opportunity

Trash on an Israeli beach, from a presentation by MK Miki Haimovich during a Knesset Interior Affairs and Environment Committee meeting on waste, June 2, 2020.

Israel is small, crowded, and polluted. If we fail to act, we will see more and more damage to the country, especially to our most vulnerable populations

Sep 14, 2021, 3:29 PM

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For this government, the true days of judgment will be in a year

Montage by Times of Israel, images left to right: Naftali Bennett – Olivier Douliery/Pool; Etaf Jarbou and grandson, Jaffa – Ahmad Gharabli/AFP; Construction site – Gili Yaari/Flash90; ultra-Orthodox demo – Ariel Schalit/AP; Protestor – Oded Balilty/AP; Yair Lapid – Avshalom Sassoni/FLASH90

The clock starts ticking after the holidays when the Bennett-Lapid coalition has to get to work doing far more than just survive. Here's their to-do list

About Me

Yohanan Plesner is the President of the Israel Democracy Institute. He served as a Member of Knesset for the Kadima party from 2007–2013. He lives in Hod HaSharon with his wife and four daughters.