DaMoshe:
Actually, the accurate claim, which Zionists cannot refute, is that “life was better for Jews in Eretz Yisrael before Zionism”, not “before 1948” as you wrote, because by that time the Zionists had already engaged in decades of conflict with the Arabs in E”Y.
Regarding the Chevron massacre, as has been posted on these boards numerous times, that was also “thanks” to Zionism, specifically “Religious Zionism”.
Rabbi Baruch Kaplan who was there, said publicly (and others concurred) that the Arabs revolted due to the “Religious Zionists” provoking the Arabs by insisting on having control over the Kosel. “Shema Yisrael HaKosel Kosleinu HaKosel Echad” was their abominable rallying cry, twisting our holy Shema into a nationalist propaganda slogan that cost innocent Jewish lives.
Rav Yosef Chaim Zonnenfeld, on the other hand, begged the “Religious Zionists” to stop antagonizing the Arabs and to be grateful that the Arabs did not interfere with Jews davening there. But the Zionists wanted to serve their idol (as per Rav Elchonon).