Israel is far less theocratic than the United Kingdom, where the head of State is also the head of Church. And she’s actually a descendant of Muhammad too! I could mention quite a few other “esteemed” theocracies, from Iran to (arguably) the United States (Christmas is a government holiday). Any definition of “Theocracy” that includes Israel, will include the majority of the Western world.

As for being an ethnostate, Israel is far less of an ethnostate than any other middle eastern country with possibly the exception of Lebanon depending on how you’d like to frame Lebanese law requiring certain government positions to be held by people of certain ethnicities. And any definition of “ethnostate” that includes Israel will include Belgium, Latvia, Estonia, and Ireland as well, at a minimum.

Well then you’ll be glad to visit, because that narrative is easy to dispel. Especially considering the topic of this post is visiting Turkey of all intolerant places.

Come to Israel. We respect everybody. Yes, even the people that the news tries to make you think that we hate. The vast majority of us don’t.