Media Point
The creation of the state of Israel – as is now being revealed by Israeli historians such as Benny Morris – required a deliberate strategy to rid the land of as many of its indigenous population as possible, through a process of violence and terror.

Counterpoint
Benny Morris: "There was no Zionist "plan" or blanket policy of evicting the Arab population, or of "ethnic cleansing". Plan Dalet (Plan D), of March 10th, 1948 (it is open and available for all to read in the IDF Archive and in various publications), was the master plan of the Haganah - the Jewish military force that became the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) - to counter the expected pan-Arab assault on the emergent Jewish state. That's what it explicitly states and that's what it was."

Sheikh Hassan Yousef, a Hamas MP

"Whatever causes damage to the Israeli side is a gain for the Palestinian nation, as far as we're concerned. Clearly it had negative consequences for the Palestinian side too, but the negative effect on the Israeli side was more important to us: In terms of economics there was a huge regression in growth and a loss of billions of dollars to the Israeli economy. The cracks in your steadfastness encouraged us greatly and proved that this means (suicide bombing) is very effective. Ariel Sharon's plan for disengagement from the Gaza Strip is also a great achievement that is a result of our activities. One of the best proofs for us of the rift created in Israeli society as a result of the suicide attacks was the phenomenon of refusal to serve in the army. We thought that this rift should be deepened, and the use of the weapon of suicide bombers became a matter of consensus in the organization."