When I first came to Israel in 2009 I was woefully ignorant as to what I would encounter.
On that first trip, my ignorance and misconceptions were flipped twice.
First time - we were in Akko exploring the crusaders tunnels and ruins. When walking down some road my uncle suddenly walked into a (well at the time, I didn't know what we were walking in to) church. It was an Arab Christian church and we walked into their Christmas celebration. I was terrified of the unknown and at the time I had no idea there were even Christian Arabs (I thought we stumbled into a Mosque). These were some of the nicest and most welcoming people. They gave us chocolates and taught us about the 600+ years of Christianity before Islam. My gut reaction of fear was definitely rooted in ignorance.
The second time - we arrived to Jerusalem at the onset of Shabbat and were lost. We were near (what is now) the Strings Bridge and needed to get to the King David Hotel. My uncle had our driver ask some religious guys for directions. I was terrified that they would throw rocks at us for violating Shabbat. I was again, woefully ignorant. They were kind and happily pointed us in the right direction and said a hearty Shabbat Shalom before continuing on their way.
Both times, my gut reaction was fear... Both times, I was mistaken.
I remember watching the Daily Show with Jon Stewart and in one particular episode, he mentioned that the Temple Mount should be shared by Jews and Muslims. I agreed with him. I still agree that idealistically speaking, this is a beautiful idea. A shared international holy city for *all three major world religions*. My idealistic ideology, although beautiful in thinking, is complicated in practicality. My simplification of such an important place in the world negated thousands of years of history and conquest.
After my first trip, these questions and complexities were part of what brought me back to this part of the world. I wound up immigrating in 2011. I've learned so much living here in Israel for the past 13 years, yet still it is not enough to learn all of the complexities of thousands of years of conquest, exile, and recolonization.
Yet somehow some college students who have never stepped foot in this country feel entitled to demonize it and tokenize anyone even mildly perceived connected to Israel.
I understand the ignorance. I don't understand the unwillingness to have a discussion. The claim of open mindedness without the uncomfortable feeling of hearing an opposing viewpoint is so backwards I struggle to understand it.
The hottest global issue of the hour and instead of the pursuit of truth, debate, action, and discourse... University campuses are erupting with hate and violence and an overwhelming unwillingness to talk and listen... And no one is really doing a damn thing about it.
Instead institutions that should be the places to teach such discourse are cowering to the chants of the youth armed with tag lines and buzz words.
I mean really...
Does anyone want genocide? No.
Does anyone want war? No.
Do we have the right to defend ourselves from terrorists after being attacked? Of course.
And what have we been screaming for nearly 7 months?
Bring them home now!
Because if Hamas actually cared about the Palestinians in Gaza, they would have given back the hostages and asked for a ceasefire, sparing many innocent lives on both sides. But remember, we're talking about a terrorist organization... there is no voice of reason here. But as individual people, we have the power of reason, deduction, and even the abilities to confront uncomfortable truths in a civilized way.
Peace is always a cause worth fighting for.
One Love. 
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