Every single Israeli prime minister, president, and major Zionist leader has voiced clear intent to erase the Palestinian people from their lands, either by forced expulsion, or military violence. From Herzl and Chaim Weizmann to Ben-Gurion to Netanyahu, the record is not ambiguous:

Founder of modern Zionism, 1897

“Supposing, for example, we were obliged to clear a country of wild beasts [referring in racist metaphor to Indigenous Palestinians], ... we would organize a large and active hunting party, drive the animals together, and throw a melinite bomb into their midst.” — The Jewish State, 1896

“We shall try to spirit the penniless population across the border... while denying it any employment in our own country.” — Herzl’s Diary, June 12, 1895

Founder of Revisionist Zionism, 1925

“There can be no voluntary agreement between ourselves and the Palestine Arabs... for converting Palestine from an Arab country into a country with a Jewish majority... Every native population in the world resists colonists as long as it has the slightest hope of being able to rid itself of the danger of being colonised. That is what the Arabs in Palestine are doing, and what they will persist in doing as long as there remains a solitary spark of hope that they will be able to prevent the transformation of “Palestine” into the “Land of Israel”.” — The Iron Wall, 1923

“A voluntary reconciliation with the Arabs is out of the question either now or in the future. If you wish to colonize a land in which people are already living, it stands or falls by the question of armed force.” — The Iron Law essay, 1925

“Jewish youth, learn to shoot!” — Common saying ofJabotinsky, 1905-1920’s

First President of Israel, 1949-1952

“There is a land without a people for a people without a land.” — first attributed to Israel Zangwill in 1901, but frequently invoked by Weizmann to justify ignoring Palestinian presence

“[the indigenous Palestinian population was akin to] the rocks of Judea, as obstacles that had to be cleared on a difficult path.”

First Prime Minister of Israel

“We must expel Arabs and take their places.” — Ben-Gurion’s letter to his son Amos, October 5, 1937

“After the formation of a large army in the wake of the establishment of the [Jewish] state, we shall abolish partition and expand to the whole of the Palestine.” — The Birth of Israel: Myths and Realities

Director, Jewish National Fund Land Settlement Committee (1932-1948)

“It must be clear that there is no room in the country for both peoples…The only solution is a Land of Israel…without Arabs… Not one village must be left, not one tribe.” — from Benny Morris, The Birth of the Palestinian Refugee Problem

Second prime minister of Israel, 1954-1955

“We have forgotten that we have not come to an empty land to inherit it, but we have come to conquer a country from people inhabiting it.” — Righteous Victims: A History of the Zionist-Arab Conflict

Chief of staff of the Israeli military and Minister of Defense during the 1967 war

“Jewish villages were built in the place of Arab villages. You do not even know the names of these Arab villages, and I do not blame you because geography books no longer exist, not only do the books not exist, the Arab villages are not there either… There is not one single place built in this country that did not have a former Arab Population.” — Ha’aretz, April 4, 1969

Prime Minister of Israel, 1974–1977, 1992-1995

“We will gradually transform the status of the territories... We will not return to the 1967 lines. We will not remove most settlements.” — Speech to the Knesset, Oct 5, 1995

Prime Minister, 1969–1974

“There was no such thing as Palestinians.” — Sunday Times (London), June 15, 1969

“How can we return the occupied territories? There is nobody to return them to.” — The Times (London), Dec 15, 1969

“We can never forgive them for forcing us to kill their children.” — Ha'aretz, 1974

Prime Minister, 1977-1983

“The Palestinians are beasts walking on two legs.” — New Statesman, June 25, 1982

Prime Minister, 1999-2005

“It is the duty of Israeli leaders to explain to public opinion, clearly and courageously... that there is no Zionism, colonialization, or Jewish State without the eviction of the Arabs and the expropriation of their lands.” — Agence France Presse, November 15, 1998

Prime Minister, 1996–1999, 2009–2021, 2022–present

“We are using tremendous force. It won’t be the same Gaza—it will be destroyed.” — Israeli cabinet meeting minutes, July 2014

“We are fighting human animals and we act accordingly.” — Speech, Oct 28, 2023