Crossword Genius

State Lear is miscast (6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

israel

'state' is the definition.
(I know that Israel is a state)

'lear is miscast' is the wordplay.
'miscast' is an anagram indicator.
'lear'+'is'='learis'
'learis' anagrammed gives 'ISRAEL'.

(Other definitions for israel that I've seen before include "Strange serial country" , "Lear is to be found in this state" , "Go to this country for ale, sir" , "Eastern Med nation" , "Zion" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.
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