Jerusalem runs increasingly separate bus-lines. Egged carries the Jews. Palestinians, who comprise most of the drivers on all lines, travel on buses run by the (Arab) East Jerusalem Transport Association. Israeli Jews boarding from settler and Haredi areas routinely insult the drivers. Disturbing interview with 3 drivers.

Political thinker Michael Walzer and Fathom editor Alan Johnson discuss The Jewish Political Tradition – an exploration of the political ideas of Jews, excluded from government, scattered throughout European ghettoes.

Fatah is expected to hold its seventh congress in its history at the same time as it is holding its 50th anniversary celebrations. The toughest question is whether it can claim to be the leader of Palestinian resistance while it is also the party of government. In its latter role, it has been harshly criticised for corruption, collaboration, crony capitalism and, by failing to hold elections, also failing to nurture a younger political generation .

The BDS movement posts the successes achieved by supporters in 2014. Notably these go beyond individual consumer choices to decisions by local councils not to use services linked to, and pension funds to divest from, Israeli settlements.

The main themes in this week’s postings.

Few Palestinians get the Israeli permits allowing them to travel to Bethlehem at Christmas – especially those living in Gaza. Although there are few Christians in the coastal strip, Christmas festivities and decorations were widely enjoyed – but not this year after the battering from the IDF, and growing intolerance from Hamas.

‘Clean Break’ was a report addressed to new PM Netanyahu 1996 by a group of policy wonks – academics and ‘opinion formers’ on how to rejuvenate Israel’s economy and take control of the region. There is no academic objectivity in it. It is a blueprint for Israeli supremacy – justified by romantic mythology about The Jews.

This is an article from The Nation in 2002 about the hard-line groups organising for a more hawkish US foreign policy – and their ascent to power. Their enemies were Russia and all Arab states. It’s of more than historical interest as those policies became embedded in the US’s political institutions.

The Jews who were the first citizens of Israel were choosing a civic identity. They hoped to leave behind religious separatism for a state where their Jewishness was not an issue. The embrace of the Basic Law, says Kai Bird, is an attack on secular equality in Israel and outside it.

Any spike in antisemitism is of concern, and there were spikes all over Europe, including the UK, during the attack on Gaza. But is the best response in 2014 to remind people of the holocaust, or Shoah, as Claude Lanzmann’s 9-hour film is called? What does Director of BBC TV hope will be the response to the foregrounding of the Nazi genocide as a defence of Jews against bigotry today?

This summer round-robin sent to a hastily-assembled Hollywood tribe – subject, ‘Is the Gaza war really over’- would be comical were it not for the serious intent of the sender, the pro-Israeli Hollywood media mogul Ryan Kavanaugh. His argument rests wholly on how horrible Hamas is. His point is?

This is not directly about Israel/Palestine. American evangelical Christians have long been the most absolute supporters of Israel, fitting their apocalyptic vision about the end when Zionism complete will lead to the end of Jews and triumph of select Christians. A renegade evangelical says these views are now dominant.

THE PSC has complained to the BBC that it is still referring to the Israel-Gaza ceasefire, despite the fact that it has been broken many times. The BBC responded – they have no evidence of that as the BBC hasn’t reported it. In fact, as documented by many, the ceasefire has been broken by both sides, with shootings, arrests and, last week, a bombing of Hamas by Israeli forces, and several rockets fired from Gaza.

The PCHR enjoys a good reputation amongst most media agencies; the centre’s reports of those killed and wounded during Operation Protective Edge were relied on for their accuracy. Here are their last two reports showing the daily infractions of human rights by all branches of the Israeli state.

On December 18th, Jordan submitted a draft resolution to the UN Security Council with proposals for a deadline in settling Israel/Palestine borders. Israel (and the US) have condemned this ‘unilateral’ move. But, asks Peter Beinart, what could be more unilateral than the occupation?

Billions of dollars were pledged for the rebuilding of Gaza at the Cairo donors’ conference. The money has not been given. Those who promised it blame poor Palestinian governance, with the unity government still not functioning.

President Abbas has threatened to withdraw his security co-operation with Israel in response to the killing of Palestinian minister Ziad Abu Ein. But he has been told support for the statehood bid depends on continuing to police Palestinians – who see the PA security forces as stooges of the Israeli government.

The effects of Israel’s summer bombardment of Gaza are going to last a long time. It’s not just the destruction of so many homes and so much infrastructure. It’s also the continued damage to mental and physical health. Al Jazeera on the effects – and yoga training for women.

Many educated Palestinians seek to escape the Israeli stranglehold through emigration. It’s obvious why. But when those Palestinians are Christians the Israeli government asserts this because of relentless persecution by Muslims. Ben White reports.

The main theme in this week’s postings.