@LostInParadise I touched on it and @Aethelflaed even went further with that line of thought.
@zenvelo Theocracies tend to have people in charge who expect the citizenry to comply with religious law. Israel does not do that at all. The reoresentatives in governemnt, are just that, representatives, voted in by election. There are Palestinians in the government, not just Jews. Married women are not required to cover their hair, no one is going to jail if they have a business open on Saturday, the country is not governed by religious law. True it is. Jewish state, homeland, I guess maybe it is not a secular government in the way America is supposed to be (although plenty of people argue differently about America) but in no way does Israel try to dictate the religious practice or behavior of the citizens. Around 40% of israeli Jews define themselves as secular.
@Aethelflaed I think for Jews there was a religous reason, but for heads of state it was probably more of a strategic reason. I have said it before, there are parts of me that sometimes wish the US had just given the Jews Wyoming (a state I pick at random) where they would be safe. But, I also like the idea of Jewish people having a home in a place they feel is “holy.” I put holy in quotes, because I am not a religious person, but it matters to me the lands have a long Jewish history, and I care about protecting the history and monuments regarding the religion and history, as I would for other religions also.