DOH!

[Knave of Hearts]

A year all told, 9 months on a kibbutz, 3 months travelling. How long were you there?

How long ago is the pertinent question.
I've never visited Israel, but if I had visited Israel in my youth, it wouldn't equip me to be aware of the situation today.
The news article does that far better than some patchy romantic memories from many years ago.
Posting an Israeli flag as avatar does not endow one with knowledge of that country.