people have been dying in middle east for many years, especially in Palestine, but i've never seen such unified reaction from all over the world. are lives in france more valuable? is terror more awful in europe?
Exactly because of that. Sadly, terror in the middle east is for the moment, a given, since the seventies or so.
1) People care about what is close to them. If you had to grieve for every tragedy around the globe you could literally never experience joy. It's callous but true.
2) France is unexpected. Like when the tsunami hit Asia, a massive outpouring of support was witnessed there as well. Bombings in the middle east are 'expected'. (not saying that is right, or even true for Beirut, just noting what I believe is the general sentiment)