Crossword Genius

Poet's put up in islands belonging to Mediterranean state (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

israeli

'belonging to mediterranean state' is the definition.
(belonging to Israel)

I cannot understand how the remainder of the clue works.

(Other definitions for israeli that I've seen before include "A Middle-Easterner" , "One from Tel Aviv, perhaps" , "Ali, rise! (anag) - Middle Easterner" , "Citizen of a Middle Eastern nation" , "Jewish character" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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