Because they are impetuous

A Tanna taught in the name of R. Meir: Why was the Torah given to Israel? Because they are impetuous. The School of R. Ishmael taught: ‘At His right hand was a fiery law unto them’; the Holy One, blessed be He, said: These are worthy to be given the fiery law. Some say: The laws of these are like fire, for had not the Law been given to Israel no nation or tongue could withstand them. And this is what R. Simeon b. Lakish said: There are three distinguished in strength [fierce]: Israel among the nations, the dog among animals, [and] the cock among birds. Some say: Also the goat among small cattle. And some say: Also the caper-bush among shrubs. (Beitzah 25b) 

Israel runs American Mideast policy. Such is the claim by all sorts of people from former Congresspeople to former CIA agents to college professors to political analysts. No, this isn't 19th century anti-semitism revisited. There's a whole lot of evidence for this as shown in a detailed essay by professors John Mearsheimer and Stephen Walt. When one recognizes the power of the Israel lobby, all sorts of mysteries start to become understandable such as why a developed nation like Israel would received $4 billion in aid per year from the US, why UN resolutions against obvious Israeli government war crimes are backed by the entire world but blocked by the US and a handful of US satellites like the Marshall Islands, why the Israel PM can appear before Congress against the wishes of the US President and receive 29 standing ovations, why the US would spend trillions of dollars attacking Iraq when Iraq posed no real threat against the US, and why extremely articulate critics of Israel such as Norman Finkelstein and Noam Chomsky have never appeared on mainstream television. Most recently, we have seen some really remarkably odd happenings such as government relief for hurricane damage being made contingent on taking pledges not to participate in boycotts of Israel. Sound incredible. Like what's the connection. Here's an NBC news story that verifies that this is really happening: 

"In the Houston suburb of Dickinson, residents are struggling to get their lives back on track. Hurricane Harvey devastated the city, destroying scores of homes and businesses. The city, fortunately, has a plan to help. Officials there are accepting applications for relief grants "from funds that were generously donated to the Dickinson Harvey Relief Fund."

But there's a catch.

The application, recently posted online, includes a provision requiring Dickinson residents to vow in writing that they will not boycott Israel. The relevant section, titled "Verification not to Boycott Israel," reads:

By executing this Agreement below, the Applicant verifies that the Applicant: (1) does not boycott Israel; and (2) will not boycott Israel during the term of this Agreement.

The city attorney, David Olson, said Dickinson officials are following a Texas law that blocks state agencies from contracting with or investing in companies that boycott Israel."

To rabid supporters of Israeli policy, ie, people who have made a religion out of the state, this is all wonderful. To anybody with a sense of freedom of speech, American patriotism, justice, or humanity, it's pretty scary and incredible. Students of the Talmud understand well. The Gemara told us, if not for the Torah, no nation could withstand the Jews because they are so bold. Students of the Talmud aren't happy about the State's power because the Talmud also tells us not to form a state by force against the will of the nations, which is exactly how the state happened. But that's another set of Gemaras which we have discussed elsewhere.