Posted 3:11 PM by Tal G
After I wondered out loud about what people in the US and Europe were left thinking about the now-debunked "Jenin massacre", many of you emailed with what you were hearing around you.

You seem divided on the basic question of whether people who are busy and not-so-knowledgeable about the situation put much trust in the electronic media and Arab spokesmen.

Scanning bulletin boards like this one, leads me to believe, however, that the powerful images and breathless accusations of 14 days ago have created a lasting impression on many, many people.

I didn't hear much from Europe unfortunately... emails from Ireland and Holland sounded much like the ones below. But I think this fellow expresses a common European opinion.

From a reader in Southern California:

IMO the average American doesn't have the foggiest of opinions about recent events in Jenin, Ramallah, and Bethlehem. There's a great line from someone, "War is God's way of teaching geography to Americans." Americans read about the events you question, or see their aftermath on the evening news, but beyond that, it's too confusing and (even more important) too far away to spend much time thinking about.

I wouldn't worry too much about average American reaction to Jenin. The Palestianian massacre line hasn't caught hold with anyone other than the fringe left--the really fringe left. And they were eager to accept whatever pro-PA line was touted for the day.

The Bethlehem stand-off does grab some attention because it's been going on for a month and is on the tube almost nightly. But IDF actions don't seem extreme when everyone admits that 40-200 armed Palestinians are holed up inside. Israel's offer of either a trial or exile seems fair enough to average folks here, and the Palestinians are undercutting their own complaints by sending conflicting messages--on the one hand, Israel is using starvation to force a solution; on the other hand, Palestinians inside deny they're hostages. So what's preventing the hungry and ill among them from coming out???

From a reader in Philadelphia:

Most people just really don't understand the situation in the Middle East and just don't care to take the time to really learn about it. So they're left with what is presented to them on the local and national news, if they even watch either of those, which most people don't!

Anyway, the consensus, based on the very superficial information offered by major media outlets here, is 1) that Palestinians and Israelis are equally at fault, 2) that it's some sort of "apartheid-esque" situation, or 3) that they don't really care who's at fault they really just want it all to just stop. People here have this wishful thinking going on where they don't understand that the Arabs have a vested interest in continuing the violence, and so most Americans (while well-intentioned) seem to believe that if
Israel would just appease the Palestinians, all would be well. "Could you all please just be quiet over there, thanks much!" -- that sort of thinking.

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Anyway. On Jenin specifically, people I talk to again feel there is "shared blame" -- that the IDF (they wouldn't know that term) probably killed some civilians but maybe not as many as was originally thought. Certainly most people don't really grasp why the operation was more merciful than our own US actions for the most part.

I'm Catholic, and with the Church of the Nativity thing -- sadly we're being told by our Church here that it's pretty much Israel's fault, that the people in there are starving innocents, etc. etc. However, at the moment the Church doesn't have a lot of credibility, due to the pedophilia scandal that's been the focus of our national news lately.

And most Americans wouldn't know what you were talking about if you mentioned Ramallah to them. lol.
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In reality (not what the media presents) very few people in the mainstream support what the pseudo-intellectuals in academia are saying. I'd say their view is like 1 percent of what people think here. And yet that's all you see on the news!

From somewhere in the US:

Around my office, I'm always surprised when I hear people I would call liberal-lefties defend Israel's actions and refer to the Arab desire to drive the Jews into the sea. I've seen many polls in the press here and it seems to be about 75-80% favoring Israel's actions in the West Bank. Unless one seeks out in depth news, the media coverage is not too deep. The damage to property may seem excessive, but no one believes any massacres took place. Most Americans think Arab media spokesmen are liars and given to exaggeration. Abdul Rachman and Hanan Ashawi are on TV often and come across like babbling lunatics. On the Israeli side, Bibi N., Mark Regev, Dor Gold and Pincus Alon are quite good. It helps that they speak English with little or no accent. As in Europe, the press is to the left of most Americans and more pro-Palestinian.

From Oklahoma(the Bethlehem remark is a bit shocking):

Jenin: Most people here give little or no credibility to any Palestinian version of events. Opinions range from 'Good, the Israelis are doing the right thing' to apathetic 'It's not our problem.' For the most part, general approval. In my personal opinion, I admire the Israelis for going in on the ground, and think they've done a fine job - and I wish our President would've kept his mouth shut so you guys could clean things up thoroughly over there.

Ramallah: The prevailing opinion so far - 'Why is Arafat still alive? Isn't it time the Israelis offed him?' Folks around here don't think he has any control, don't trust him, and don't regard him well.

Bethlehem: 'Why don't the Israelis just storm the church and get those guys? It's just a church, we'll build another one.'

Granted, this is the part of America where gun ownership is very high, where a large portion of military recruits come from, etc. General opinion seems to strongly support Israel - either because we believe Israel is fighting the same fight as we are, or, from a more religious point of view, because Israel is intended to have the Holy Land.

From Florida:

...My non Jewish friends think Israel is hiding something by not letting the UN in.. They simply do not understand why Israel has a problem with that.. Also some feel sorry for the Palestinian's and think Israel is persecuting them. Of course they condemn the suicide bombings but think Israel is really at fault