I disagree we must have a state in modern times that favors a religion or ethnicity. That's basically what South Africa was. See also the history of the USA.

Israel can and should be a place for Jews to be safe but it doesn't have to be favor one religion or ethnicity. I think Anti-semitism can be controlled especially in a place with a large minority (or even majority) of Jewish peoples.

Before the founding of Israel, Jews, Christians and Muslims generally co-existed with tolerance in the Middle East.

It’s very hard to have a state that doesn’t push one culture or another as primary. Otherwise there’s no glue keeping the society together. Which is important to get people to approve government decisions.

As for peacefully coexisting, would you say that Christians and Muslims peacefully coexisted in Ottoman Balkans too?

Having a state with a de facto dominant culture is not the same as having a dominant ethnicity/religion by law.

Sorry, I don't know about Christians and Muslims in the Ottoman Balkans.. I was more talking about Jews and others in Egypt, Syria, Jordan, etc.

Culture is proxy to ethnicity and religion. And it’s pretty close. E.g. Christmas celebration all around „secular“ Europe.

Ottoman rule in Balkans was quite horrific. E.g. Christian’s having to pay tax in young kids most of whom would never see home again. Yet it was rather peaceful with ottomans enforcing the peace :)

I’m not that familiar with Jews in Middle East up to 19th century. But IIRC there were plenty of pogroms. And taxes differentiated by religion was common in most Muslim regimes. As well as overall relation with government, ability to make a career etc.

Israel’s Law of Return, is seen as a cornerstone of Israel as a Jewish state: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Law_of_Return You could argue that this is not necessary in the modern world. However, proponents argue that many free democracies with diverse populations also see waves of intolerance and anti-Semitism. So, Israel is designated as a place of refuge for Jewish people around the world. If Israel were blind to religion and ethnicity, this protection and guarantee goes away. So, for many supporters around the world, the fight is existential. It is interesting to see the internal politics developing in Israel between ultra-Orthodox and more moderate groups of people, though. There seems to be efforts towards favoring certain classes within the Jewish population. There is a lot of tension in the area and I don’t think there is any easy solution.