It's not a metaphor relating to those. You can substitute the apple for anything you like, the fruit is not a relevant object. It just carries similar properties. They can be called 'Notexistilandia', 'United Territories of Nowhereon' or 'Countrystan'. Whatever helps.

You're very close with Chomsky and people not knowing!

What I mean is that the mystical prophecies of one true holy and pure — despite the evidence, like we've discussed, rely much on faith, instead of (and sometimes contrary) to knowledge. And general populations "knowledge", fooled, propagandized is just that — much closer to faith.

More Chomsky:

I think irrational belief is a dangerous phenomenon, and I try to consciously avoid irrational belief. On the other hand, I certainly recognize that it’s a major phenomenon for people in general, and you can understand why it would be. It does, apparently, provide personal sustenance, but also bonds of association and solidarity and a means for expressing elements of one’s personality that are often very valuable elements. To many people it does that. In my view, there’s nothing wrong with that. My view could be wrong, of course, but my position is that we should not succumb to irrational belief.

Idealistic nationalist supremacy is just a form of religion.