[MeanWestTexan]

“It is also disappointing to see the animosity between modern Persia and Israel, considering that the Jewish people might not even exist today if not for the Persians who freed them.”

Well, the Persians also conquered and enslaved Israel in the first place, and if my Purim over-consuptions didn’t cloud my memory too much, it wasn’t that great of a time while there.

[SolidWood]

In the first place? Hardly so. The Assyrians and Babylonians enslaved Israel and destroyed it. The Persians under Cyrus took over the Babylonian Empire and thus also Judah/Israel. They became part of the Persian Empire for ca. 200 years. The Persians didn't rule directly over the conquered territories, but established client kingdoms. Slavery (from the government, not private) was abolished by Cyrus and the Temple in Jerusalem rebuilt.

In any case Persian rule was more lax and granted more authonomy than the subsequent Hellenistic and Roman yoke.

[Technogeeb]

Well, the Persians also conquered and enslaved Israel in the first place

Nope; that was the Babylonians who did that.

and if my Purim over-consuptions didn’t cloud my memory too much

Probably just a bit. The time of Haman was under Darius, which was a couple of generations later. Under Cyrus, Daniel was essentially the prime minister, and even under Darius Esther was considered his favorite and named Queen. Those two positions aren't exactly held by the oppressed.