[northernwilson]

it's no surprise such draconian measures are used against Palestinians.

Actually it probably would be a surprise to many moderate Americans to learn just how draconian the Israeli's have become under Sharon. Many American newspapers tend to be slanted toward the Israeli's, unlike Europe's, where they give a more balanced perspective on this issue. This is the most likely reason that many Europeans tend to sympathize with the Palestinians and are more critical of Israel.

[Ajnin]

Europeans sympathize with the Palestinians because they are not the ones being blown to pieces in the streets. As long as the Palestinian people tolerate the terrorism perpetrated by the PLO leadership, I think they deserve everything they get. If they want a homeland, they should become good Israeli citizens like the Druze and Bedouine.

[VOA]

Many American newspapers tend to be slanted toward the Israeli's, unlike Europe's,
where they give a more balanced perspective on this issue.
This is the most likely reason that many Europeans tend to sympathize with
the Palestinians and are more critical of Israel.

I'm sure that having about 27-30 MILLION "peaceful" muslims in their midsts has
absolutely nothing to do with the version of journalistic reporting by
European (and NPR) about the thousands of innocents killed at the Jenin massacre.
We are fortunate to how how European cousins to give us an objective view.

Not to mention Peter Jennings as he surely gets some very objective briefings from
his old girlfriend (and Corp. Klinger look-alike) Ms. Aswari (sp?).

And I'm sure that sensing an opening to return to the "good old days" by the grandchildren
of the Vichy and Nazi regimes is also not a factor.

[VOA]

We are fortunate to how how European cousins to give us an objective view.

Pardon my slip at the keyboard (one of many I am afraid)
Correction:
We are fortunate to have our European cousins to give us an objective view.

[BlueLancer]

"This is the most likely reason that many Europeans tend to sympathize with the Palestinians and are more critical of Israel."

More than likely, it's for the same reason the French, Dutch, Belgians, and Chamberlain's Britain were so "understanding" of the German need for the Austrian Anschluss and the Czechoslovakian dismemberment ...

...too cowardly to stand up and fight, hoping against hope that the whirlwind they were feeding wouldn't turn in their direction and eat them as well.