The Emory Advocates for Justice in Palestine is
a student and faculty organization at Emory University which seeks to provide the campus and the greater Atlanta community
with objective up-to-date information about the Palestinian struggle against Israeli occupation.
The modern state of Israel was founded in 1948, in the historic lands of Palestine, based on an
expansionist Zionist political ideology. Under British colonial administration, Western Europeans of Jewish descent
migrated to Palestine, established a presence, and were granted sovereignty despite Arab protests. Following Israel's
declaration of independence, Israeli forces militarily invaded neighboring Palestinian Arab villages and expelled their Palestinian
Arab population to neighboring countries, forcibly establishing the modern state of Israel. The 20th century struggle
in Palestine between a colonial-backed power, Israel, and a native population, the Palestinians, is the basis of the
Israeli-Palestinian conflict that exists today.
To the right is a schematic diagram showing the continuous and gradual forced
acquisition of Palestinian territory by Israel, against international laws and resolutions.
The formation of Israel and the Arab backlash that followed have caused
serious stress in relations between Muslims, Christians and Jews worldwide. While Israel has achieved great strides in technological
growth, political organization, and military advancement, this does not give it the right to oppress the Palestinians
and steal their land nor claim their cultural heritage.
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The EAJP seeks to
speak against the Israeli occupation of Palestine and to address the critical issues of the Palestinian struggle, from the mass
expulsions of 1948 to present-day Palestinian home demolitions carried out by the Israeli military. Israel restricts
Palestinians from their basic human rights such as restricting them access to their own fresh water while stealing
it for Israeli consumption, restricting access to their farmland, road access, safe shelter and peace. This is
the side of Israel that the Israeli government does not want you to see. ----------------------------------------------------
