The vast majority of the public in the USA simply do not watch matters overseas beyond very limited sooundbites and short film clips. So when a crisis or a newsworthy item appears - go simple folks.

I expect in Western Europe each country watches different parts of the world more closely and public policy themes too. The French public may watch North Africa for example.

Another factor I think is that with a few exceptions the MENA diaspora has little impact politically - reverse kith & kin. So few can ask someone from MENA themselves. Clearly there are a good number of expats working across MENA, although I'd venture the numbers have declined in the last twentty years - except in the Gulf (200k Brits work there).