Chutzpah
Leo Rosten in The Joys of Yiddish defines chutzpah as "gall, brazen nerve, effrontery, incredible 'guts', presumption plus arrogance such as no other word and no other language can do justice to".
Israel is a nation that does not enjoy a broadly positive global image. There are a number of third world nations that have adopted a decidedly hostile posture and policy toward it. Much of Europe can be described as increasingly ambivalent toward. European nations often take the course of abstaining on votes in international forums such as the UN that deal with Israel. In reality there is only one nation that is consistently supportive of Israel, diplomatically, financially and militarily, The United States. One would be inclined to think that a small nation such as Israel that finds itself so heavily dependent on another party would be inclined to treat its benefactor with courtesy and civility. Think again. Chutzpah dictates a different approach.
Gaza War Strains Relations Between U.S. and Israel
When the State Department condemned Israel’s strike on a United Nations school in Gaza on Sunday, saying it was “appalled” by this “disgraceful” act, it gave full vent to what has been weeks of mounting American anger toward the Israeli government.
The blunt, unsparing language — among the toughest diplomats recall ever being aimed at Israel — lays bare a frustrating reality for the Obama administration: the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has largely dismissed diplomatic efforts by the United States to end the violence in Gaza, leaving American officials to seethe on the sidelines about what they regard as disrespectful treatment.
Even as Israel agreed to a new cease-fire with Hamas, raising hopes for an end to four weeks of bloodshed, its relationship with the United States has been bruised by repeated clashes, from the withering Israeli criticism of Secretary of State John Kerry’s peacemaking efforts to Mr. Netanyahu’s dressing down of the American ambassador to Israel.
With public opinion in both Israel and the United States solidly behind the Israeli military’s campaign against Hamas, no outcry from Israel’s Arab neighbors, and unstinting support for Israel on Capitol Hill, President Obama has had few obvious levers to force Mr. Netanyahu to stop pounding targets in Gaza until he was ready to do it.
This last statement explains why Netanyahu thinks he can get by with the chutzpah. Over the course of the past 40 years Israel and its US supporters have established a firm beachhead with American opinion. There are some signs that this unwavering support may be experiencing some erosion in certain quarters. Younger and minority voters seem to be swinging in a more negative direction, but the majority is still supportive. It seems plausible that the belligerent confrontational attitude is likely a deliberate strategy based on the notion that any hint of a willingness to compromise could be interpreted as a sign of weakness.
As long as Israel can hold onto US support they will probably be able to continue their brutal and repressive policies toward the Palestinians.