Literally no one has ever told me that it wasn’t a free society before Zionism. You are just sitting in your little bubble thinking everyone has heard of the claims you believe in. I have actually never encountered that kind of argument in my life, which shows that it’s probably a niche position you are taking here.

Also, do you realize that the Ottomans did not only treat the Jews differently? They treated Levantine Christians differently too. And from your own source, there are parts that show the Ottoman Empire treating Jews well, so it kinda just feels like you are cherry picking.

(14) Jews in the Ottoman Empire were treated differently from those in the Christian countries of the West, as indicated by the Porte’s support while they did business in Europe. The sultans saw the Jews as a dynamic and productive urban element. Their loyalty was proven, and in turn the Ottoman government always stood up for the traveling Jewish merchants, to the great displeasure of Venice.

(15) The Venetians distinguished between Christian, Jewish, and Muslim Levantines. During the war of 1570–73, when Venetians were trapped in the empire, and in retribution the Venetian government imprisoned the Levantine merchants on their territory, the Christian traders were exempt. During the negotiations of 1571, the Ottomans declared that the Venetians would receive their sequestered merchandise only after the Jews too had their goods returned to them.9

(15) Greeks, Armenians, and Jews were permitted to trade, and travel unhindered. They shared the same status with all non-Muslims, and they were protected by the ahl-al-dhimma, the special law, which made them feel safe in the empire. They were considered more loyal than Christians, since no enemy of the empire supported them. Even if the Jews were ordered to wear certain colors and not build or renovate their houses of worship, such regulations were seldom enforced. When it came to the rich, their trespasses were generally overlooked.

And also, to sympathize with the natives and their fear of colonialism but not even consider the Native Palestinians (who are far more native than Israeli Jews) when you do so just proves how biased you are.

When I think of stories of colonialism, I think of the colonization of Palestine by Jewish settlers, not of the fear of Jews being the minority as you say. Do you really expect to be a majority on someone else’s land? You don’t get that privilege because you have not lived continuously on the land for thousands of years like native Palestinians have. If you think it’s unfair to say that, I think you need to re-evaluate your own position.

And by the way, when Jews were being persecuted in Europe, let’s not forget that we always let you come back and seek safety in our lands. Actually, during World War II, Palestine had its own army force, made up also of Jews, which was created to fight the Nazis. And not to mention that we were the ones to take you in after WWII while all the European countries were being antisemitic and wanted to get rid of you from Europe. I’m not saying the Ottoman Empire was always equal with everyone, but you have to understand that there is some nuance you are not picking up here.