standing tall

Last daf of Moed Katan (translation from Sefaria):

וַהֲלֹא דְּבָרִים קַל וָחוֹמֶר וּמָה אַחְאָב מֶלֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵל שֶׁלֹּא עָשָׂה אֶלָּא דָּבָר אֶחָד טוֹב דִּכְתִיב וְהַמֶּלֶךְ הָיָה מׇעֳמָד בַּמֶּרְכָּבָה נֹכַח אֲרָם כָּךְ בָּנָיו שֶׁל רַבִּי יִשְׁמָעֵאל עַל אַחַת כַּמָּה וְכַמָּה

If, with regard to Ahab, king of Israel, who did only one good thing that is explicitly mentioned in the Bible, as it is written: “And the king was propped up in his chariot facing Aram” (I Kings 22:35), as he did not want the Jewish people to see that he was mortally wounded and flee, and this, that he was greatly mourned, was nevertheless stated about him, then all the more so will the sons of Rabbi Yishmael be greatly mourned.

Achav was a big time oveid avodah zarah, one of the three kings the Mishna in Sanhedrin singles out as not deserving of olam ha'ba.  The navi tells us that Acahv did more bad than anyone that had ever lived before him (Melachim I 16:30).  When that's your legacy as recorded in Tanach, it's pretty bad.

Despite all this, Achav was rewarded by Hashem with a tremendous hesped when he died because when the nation went to battle against Aram, he stood tall in his chariot even though mortally wounded so that the people would not see the king fall and lose their courage.  

Netanyahu is certainly no Achav nor is any other member of of the Israeli government.  So if Hashem gives even Achav credit for standing tall in battle and showing what Jewish courage is, kal v'chomer our current leaders deserve our support for standing tall against Hamas, for not cowering when they face hostile reporters, for showing pride when they speak before the UN or to other governments, for not backing down even when they are attacked with the most vile and vicious lies and accusations.  Because they hold their heads held high, uncowed and unapologetic for doing what's right, we can all hold our heads a little bit higher.  Because the citizens of Israel stand strong and show courage, every one of us feels a little prouder. We've been missing that for close to 2000 years.