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Fathom Journal

Website:

fathomjournal.org/
Location:

London, England
Type:

Quarterly Journal
Formation:

2012
Executive Director:

Calev Ben-Dor

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Fathom Journal is a quarterly online periodical launched in 2012 by the Britain Israel Communications and Research Centre (BICOM), a United Kingdom-based nonprofit organization that provides news and analysis of issues regarding Israel and the Middle East. 1 2

Fathom notes in its founding statement that BICOM affirms the “right of the State of Israel to live in peace and security” and “the rights of the Palestinians to statehood.” Fathom also noted in its 12th issue that its founding statement announced that its advisory editors and contributors would be “artisans and partisans of the two-state solution,” who adamantly “refuse to drift” with people that are embracing the “reactionary fantasy of the so-called one state solution.” 3 4

The former editor of Fathom, professor Alan Johnson, released a report titled “Institutionally Antisemitic: Contemporary Left Antisemitism and the Crisis in the British Labour Party” in March 2019. The report studied 130 examples of antisemitism and denial of antisemitism within the British Labour Party and accused then-Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn and his supporters of “stalking party members online and spreading a trolling and bullying culture.” 5 6

Background

The Fathom Journal, simply known as Fathom, is a quarterly online journal launched in 2012 by the Britain Israel Communications and Research Centre (BICOM), a United Kingdom-based nonprofit organization that provides news and analysis of issues regarding Israel and the Middle East. 1 7

Two-State Solution

Editorial Position

Fathom notes in its founding statement that BICOM affirms the “right of the State of Israel to live in peace and security” and “the rights of the Palestinians to statehood.” An article titled “Founding Fathom: Why do we need another journal about Israel?” co-written by former editor and founder of Fathom Alan Johnson stated that the journal would “inject fresh thinking into the search for peace” between Israel and the Palestinian people, based on the two-state solution, which Johnson claimed was the “only way to balance Jewish and Palestinian demands for sovereign independence and national self-determination.” 1 2

Fathom also noted in its 12th issue that its founding statement announced the journal and its contributors would be “artisans and partisans of the two-state solution,” who adamantly “refuse to drift” with people that are embracing the “reactionary fantasy of the so-called one state solution.” 3 4

Despite this, the founding statement also claims that Fathom’s goal was to “build a global intellectual space for serious bi-partisan debate about Israel and the region,” and that the journal’s contributors and advisory editors would be “drawn from across the political spectrum.” 2

Criticism

Fathom was accused by Martin Sherman, a former advisor to Israel’s government under Prime Minister Yitzhak Shamir, of “stifling debate” and exhibiting bias. 4

In an op-ed, Sherman claimed that Alan Johnson, who was editor at the time, expressed interest in publishing an essay of Sherman’s, titled “Israel as the Nation State of the Jews: Fundamental imperatives for survival,” in March 2016. According to Sherman, after a “chance Facebook encounter” over a column written by Sherman titled “The two-states dogma – The inanity and insanity,” Johnson conveyed that the previously discussed essay was “unwelcome.” 4

Sherman has previously argued that a two-state solution was impossible, and that “incentivized Arab emigration” was a solution. He has also stated that the only “durable” solution requires “dismantling Gaza,” relocating “non-belligerent” Palestinians, and the extension of Israeli sovereignty. 8 4 9

According to Sherman, Johnson sent an email stating that he had read Sherman’s views in more detail and concluded that those views lay “outside the editorial redlines of Fathom.” 4

People

The former editor of Fathom, professor Alan Johnson, released a report titled “Institutionally Antisemitic: Contemporary Left Antisemitism and the Crisis in the British Labour Party” in March 2019. The report studied 130 examples of antisemitism and denial of antisemitism within the British Labour Party and accused then-Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn and his supporters of “stalking party members online and spreading a trolling and bullying culture.” 6 5

Calev Ben-Dor is the editor of Fathom as of December 2025. He worked in the public affairs department of the Embassy of Israel in London, England, from October 2003 to October 2005. He was an analyst at the Policy Planning Bureau at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Israel from May 2011 to November 2015.

Ben-Dor was also the director of research at Britain Israel Communications and Research Centre from November 2015 to September 2019, before he became a senior research associate for the organization, a position he holds as of December 2025. He was deputy editor of Fathom from November 2015 until December 2024, when he became its editor, a position he holds as of December 2025. 10

References

  1. Johnson, Alan, and Toby Greene. “Founding Fathom: Why do we need another journal about Israel?.” Times of Israel. Accessed December 22, 2025. https://www.timesofisrael.com/founding-fathom-why-do-we-need-another-journal-about-israel/. 
  2. “About Us.” BICOM. Accessed December 22, 2025. https://www.bicom.org.uk/about-us/. 
  3. Post, Guest. “Fathom 12 OUT NOW.” Harry’s Place. March 11, 2016. Accessed December 22, 2025. https://hurryupharry.net/2016/03/11/fathom-12-out-now/. 
  4. “Into the Fray: Stifling debate – BICOM’s blatant bias.” The Jerusalem Post. March 22, 2003. Accessed December 22, 2025. https://www.jpost.com/opinion/into-the-fray-stifling-debate-bicoms-blatant-bias-449890. 
  5. Johnson, Alan. “Institutionally Antisemitic Contemporary Left Antisemitism and the Crisis in the British Labour Party.” Fathom Journal. Accessed December 22, 2025. https://fathomjournal.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Institutionally-Antisemitic-Report-embargoed.pdf. 
  6. “Study by British academic finds Labour today is ‘institutionally anti-Semitic’.” Times of Israel. Accessed December 22, 2025. https://www.timesofisrael.com/study-by-uk-labour-veteran-finds-party-today-is-institutionally-anti-semitic/. 
  7. “About Us.” BICOM. https://www.bicom.org.uk/about-us/. 
  8. Wells, Yoella. “Facing the Mirror: Dr. Sherman’s Warnings to Deaf Ears.” Times of Israel. Accessed December 22, 2025. https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/facing-the-mirror-dr-shermans-warnings-to-deaf-ears/. 
  9. “Into the fray: Why Gaza must go.” The Jerusalem Post. July 24, 2014. Accessed December 22, 2025. https://www.jpost.com/opinion/columnists/into-the-fray-why-gaza-must-go-368862. 
  10. “Calev Ben-Dor – Experience.” LinkedIn. Accessed December 22, 2025. https://www.linkedin.com/in/calev-ben-dor-4167413/details/experience/. 
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