As the debate over Israel’s interdiction of the Gaza flotilla continues, there are, predictably, many knee-jerk attacks on Israel and, to be honest, defenses as well.

But here are two essays, from different perspectives, from two of the most thoughtful writers around:

Echoing comments (pre-dating the Gaza incident) we heard last week at the OU from British Chief Rabbi Jonathan Sacks (that the Biblical statement of Bilam that Israel is “a people who dwells alone” was not a blessing, but a curse), Leon Wieseltier raises serious concerns about the perils of Jewish pessimism.

On the other hand, here is Charles Krauthammer who should not be read as falling into that kind of pessimism, but providing a clear-eyed assessment of Israel’s challenge.

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