But actions like this are bad for Israel, for four principal reasons:

First, they undermine the US-Israel relationship. Congressman Bill Delahunt - who is now in Israel as a part of the delegation - spoke in clear terms about the damage done on this front:

"In our opinion this is an inappropriate way to treat elected representatives of Israel's closest ally who are visiting the country - and who through the years have been staunch supporters of the U.S.-Israeli special relationship."

Second, Israel's leaders can only benefit from a substantive and respectful dialogue with their supporters in the United States. I expect there to be areas of agreement and disagreement between the Congressional delegation and Israeli officials. This is healthy. It is a mark of genuine friendship. At the same time, the special relationship between the two countries cannot be sustained without space for discussion.

Third, Ayalon's efforts to smear J Street harm the ties between Israel and American Jews. The latter want to see Israel thrive and therefore oppose some of its policies, like the failure to genuinely stop settlement construction. Ayalon is only fooling himself if he doesn't realize that when he snubs J Street he snubs a broad sector of the American Jewish community.

Fourth, the political rhetoric in Israel has undergone a dangerous shift. Name calling and even incitement against one's political opponents has become commonplace. We witnessed this change this summer, when Israeli Vice Premier Moshe Ya'alon called the Israeli Peace Now movement a "virus."  (That episode at least was slammed by Israel's political establishment). Heated rhetoric like this has already resulted in one political assassination in Israel and, more recently, to violence against peace activists. Ayalon's stunts vis-a-vis J Street are a continuation of this dangerous trend.

Anyone who cares about Israel should hope that Ayalon - and his fellow politicians in Israel - will learn to engage in a respectful dialogue.