The Ottoman empire has fallen for a reason - it went along the road of many other empires. The non-Turkish provinces rebelled against the Turkish rule and kicked them out. This includes the population of the Levant. So, why should only the Jews be blamed for lack of respect toward the Ottoman imperial rule over the Levant in general and the Land of Israel in particular.
The the real legacy is the People of Israel, a nation that has survived outside of their home for all that time. It is not a myth, it is a reality.
You are right that **usually **a people that gains independence inhabited the land continuously for some time prior to independence. However, it was not the case with Jews who were in double trouble. They have both lost their independence and were dispersed out of their original homeland. Does not seem fair to hold this unfortunate circumstances against them.
It is quite understandable. In fact, it is hard to find a nation whose path to independence was not accompanied with hostilities, bloodshed, displacements and dispossession.