Personal experience.
1991, several days before Pesach, several weeks after the end of the 1st gulf war.
I boarded a bus in Haifa towards Jerusalem, in order to take care of some urgent errands.
The only vacant seats were the last 2 rows.
I opted for the row before the last, sat down and made myself comfortable.
Immediately afterwards, the last row was filled up, and the bus departed en-route to Jerusalem.
Shortly into the ride, It became clear that directly behind me were sitting 2 US marines. Right next to them sat a (secular) Israeli soldier, and they struck up a conversation.
The marines served in the Persian Gulf during the Gulf war, and were now on the way back to the U.S. Their carrier docked in the Haifa bay on the way, and these lucky soldiers got a day off, which they decided to spend in Jerusalem.
It was a fascinating conversation.
Here are some excerpts;
"We've been through the whole middle east. It's one big desert. All dead. No trees. nothings. Well, there was several trees in Somalia (they stopped there to rescue some Americans, after an Army coupe), but not that much, and that's Africa - not the middle east.
Here in Israel - it's so different. It's beautiful. Everything is blooming.
I guess that's what happens when you take the Holy land and give it to the Chosen people."
...
"In 1967, When you conquered Jerusalem, why didn't you rebuild the 3rd temple?"
...
"When is the feast of tabernacles?"
...
It seemed that they had more knowledge about Jews, Jewish tradition & Tanach then the Israeli soldier.
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