Israel has grown used to defending itself, whether from attacks on civilians by suicide bombers or military attacks by neighboring armies and militants. It is also used to defending itself from verbal and political attacks, whether in the halls of the United Nations, the capitals of Europe, or the towers of academia.

Over the past year, those attacks have come from places uncomfortably close to, and sometimes well inside, what was once known as the mainstream. A dishonestly argued paper on the influence of the "Israel Lobby" published by Harvard's Kennedy School of Government was probably the best – or worst – example of an academic fad for laying the United States' Mideast woes at the feet of pro-Israel activists. Such critics of Israel could not accept that a majority of Americans actually disagreed with their solutions for solving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict – no, it must be the mythical power of the Jewish lobby that has clouded the eyes of policy-makers.

Close behind these arguments were those questioning Israel's very legitimacy – not the legitimacy of its hold on the West Bank, but the justification for the thriving society Jews have built in Tel Aviv and Beersheba, Haifa and Eilat.

It was a frustrating year for so many in the pro-Israel community, regardless of their political or ideological leanings. A discussion about facts and tactics was constantly diverted and hijacked by those who would demonize Israel or deny its opponents any responsibility for the continuing violence or grinding stalemate.

And yet out of frustration, there also grew a renewed commitment by many to defend Israel, to revel in its successes, bask in its normalcy, and admire the way the country learns from its mistakes (and unfortunately, there were plenty of those this year).

Israel's enemies and critics have perversely performed a great service. As Israel celebrates its 59th anniversary, we have all been reminded of the strength of democracy, the glory of Jewish nation-building, and the unity of Israel's supporters around the world. Despite those who desire to spoil the party, it is a very happy birthday indeed.