Crossword Genius

Middle Easterner is famously mad ruler, twisted one (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

israeli

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'middle easterner' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

'is famously mad ruler twisted one' is the wordplay.
'famously mad ruler' becomes 'ear' (I can't justify this - if you can you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'twisted' is a reversal indicator.
'one' becomes 'li' (I've seen this in other clues).
'ear' backwards is 'rae'.
'is'+'rae'+'li'='ISRAELI'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for israeli that I've seen before include "Citizen of Middle Eastern state" , "One from the Middle East" , "From Jerusalem, perhaps" , "SW Asian" , "Country-dweller" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.
Want a hint initially instead of a full solution? Install my app