Well of course Israel, modern or ancient, is qualified to be a civ in it's own right. The hebrew nation is undoubtedly on of the most influental nations of all time by it's religious and cultural impact on the west, e middle east and the South. However, civ is about building empires in one way or another and the hebrew has never claimed to build an empire. At least not in historical eras. They have lived i diaspora and coveted their promised land. Until civ IV this has been a valid argument. In Civ V and VI civs that has never been more than nation states has been included. Countries like Brazil and Norway har never really had imperial ambitions. The imperial ambitions of the vikings should rightfully be represented by the Danes as in earlier civs. I don not think that the political situation in modern Israel is the issue here.
The essential difference between Israel and other nations with great impact on the world is that the others more or less openly have claimed influence over other peoples. The hebrew People on the other hand has had a hard time trying to convince other peoples that they have no other ambition than existing in diaspora or in Palestine/Israel. The concept that jews seek to defeat other nations by economic, religious, scientific or cultural influence is understandibly too controversion for firaxis. Just think of what the special traits would be.
For example.
Let my People Go!- When a conquered builder or settler is recaptured, also garn a great prophet or apostle.
Diaspora
Gain economic, cultural, military and scientific boost from any city where judaism is represented.
Promised land, jewish district, progromes and holocaust -
Restricted like Venice to one city only. Gain a settler if you loss your capital. If you lose your capital gain a settler that when killed within another civ borders will reappear outside the borders. Special ability to settle within other civs borders. Significant boost i every area if resettled on the original capitalspot.
Ability to build a district with a builder within any city belonging to an empire that has republic, mercantile republic or democracy. Diplomatic option for other government types except fascism and comminism. Gain a builder if a another civ opts to throw you out. If the government type is changed to fascism or comminism you lose your district and don't get a new builder but instead you get a significant boost in diplomatic influence.
As you see. Too controversial for any publisher. I would however love to play it. Can someone please make this mod??
Anything less than this would only be disqppointing.
These are absolutely horrible and somewhat even disgusting and insulting ideas. Making a civ based on the Jewish Diaspora? Come on...
If you make Israel a civ, you make one of two: Ancient Israel or the modern State of Israel. Now, the modern State of Israel would be a silly choice because it exists since the mid 20th century, and even if you extend it to the first Aliya of the late 19th century it is not enough. Combining the ancient and modern entities would be stupid. It would be like giving Ancient Egypt Muslim elements, or making a Roman civ with Italian elements.
So we are going for Ancient Israel. Ancient Israel should represent the period between Joshua's conquest and the Bar Kokhva rebellion, and cover the times of the 12 tribes, the kingdoms of Israel and Judah, the Hasmonean kingdom, and Roman Judea until the unsuccessful Jewish revolt.
The unique ability would be "Holy Land", and it would grant bonuses when fighting within Israel's borders, or in wars of liberation. It also gives bonuses to faith, converting it to happiness for the empire. This is because Judaism is not a missionary religion, so I think it would be right that Israel, unlike, say, Spain, would not want to spread its religion, but rather develop it within its borders.
The leaders should be Solomon (Biblical Israel), with a trade and religion bonus, and Salome Alexandra (Hasmonean Israel), with bonuses to defense and government. Their unique abilities could be "The Wisest Man" for Solomon, and "The Great Sanhedrin" for Salome Alexandra, who also receives the unique unit "Ekatontamachoi", which is a weaker, but cheaper, swordsman.
The unique unit for Israel should be the Slinger of Benjamin - which is either a stronger slinger or one that gets promotions faster.
The unique infrastructure is the Gath - this is the Hebrew word for "wine press", and it can be like a granary that gives bonuses to faith.
