The group, which embarked with the Olive Tree Initiative in early September for a two-week tour of the region, featured students that were from different majors, religions, backgrounds, ages and views.

"I learned that different viewpoints teach you a lot about your own viewpoints," said Amanda Naoufal, former president of the UC-Irvine Society of Arab Students.

Many of the students admitted to having preconceived notions before their visit, like Omar Bustami, a senior political science and civil engineering major who was the first student to present.

"One of the terms I always heard before visiting was ‘politically charged
apartheid,’ " Bustami told the crowd.

During his visit, he noticed that Palestinians were mandated by Israel to use substandard roads, while Israeli-only roads were smooth and maintained.

"That’s when I realized what apartheid is," Bustami said.

"You pass through so many checkpoints and you realize that this experience is so incredibly difficult."

Isaac Yerushalmi, president of Anteaters for Israel, said Israel is faced with a difficult dilemma.

"If those checkpoints weren’t there, there would be more infiltration into Israel, and there would be more terror," he said.

Like Yerushalmi, a handful of students said their most memorable moment was a Shabbat dinner on a Jerusalem rooftop.

"I fell in love with the land of Israel, and I fell in love with the city of Jerusalem," said Manuel Gomez, vice chancellor of UCI.

Another trip member, Tzvi Raviv — a native Israeli, IDF soldier and Israel Program Coordinator for the Hillel Foundation of Orange County — said he learned that "Muslims were cool."

Sameera Ali, a senior biological sciences and global cultures double major, described her experience as "life-changing" and "spiritual."

"I felt very blessed," she added.

Ali Malik, a senior history major and religious studies minor currently studying in Washington, D.C., implored the crowd to reassess their views like the students did after their visit.

"Don’t be afraid of being wrong," he said to a round of applause.

"The Muslims and Jews of America need to work together in this democratic fabric," he said.

Audience members praised the event and the students.

The presentation helped them and us develop a realistic picture of the situation," said Lee Weissman, a teacher and Orthodox Jew from Irvine.

Issa Edah-Tally, president of the Islamic Center of Irvine, told InFocus he was "blown away" by the presentation and showed appreciation for the community’s financial support of the tour.

Due to national travel restrictions, the university did not sponsor the trip. Instead, the students raised more than $60,000 in 18 months.

The Olive Tree Initiative hopes to sponsor additional visits in the future.