With November 1 elections around the corner, Democratic lawmakers in the United States recently warned their Israeli counterparts against including what they see as extreme elements in future government.
They were referring to far-right extremist Itamar Ben-Gvir of the Religious Zionist Party - a self-described disciple of the late racist American Israeli rabbi Meir Kahane.
The first warning was issued, according to a report by Israeli journalist Barak Ravid, by Senate Foreign Affairs Committee Chair Robert Menendez, a Democrat from New Jersey. Menendez cautioned opposition leader Benjamin Netanyahu that including Ben-Gvir in his government would harm the bi-partisan ties between the U.S. and Israel.
A second warning came on Twitter via a post by Representative Brad Sherman, a Democrat from California, who called on Israeli leaders from all political stripes, to boycott "extremists such as Ben Gvir," whose values contradict those of Israel as a Jewish and democratic state.
He too, warned Israeli-American ties would be hurt.
Menendez is seen as representing the right-leaning bloc of the Democratic Party and is a longtime supporter of Israel.
Sherman is a member of the progressive bloc of the party, but has supported Israel over the years, including on legislations providing financial aid to the Jewish state.
He received support from the pro-Israel establishment in his appointment to head the House Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee after the departure of Eliot Engle in 2020.
Both objected to the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran, and Menendez even put his own political career at risk when he publicly confronted then-President Barak Obama on the matter.
Can their messages of warning be a threat to Israel? Would it be an attempt to intervene in the internal affairs of a subservient ally? I think not.
The two legislators made the remarks in the wake of the growing strength of the progressives, whose view of Israel vary from impatience with Israeli policies toward Palestinians to outright hostility.
The U.S. is also experiencing a surge in populist forces working to undermine existing institutions, such as "Maga Republicans," who support former President Donald Trump.
Menendez and Sherman view themselves as friends who are trying to convince Israel not to drive after drinking. Their warning comes, as Sherman noted, because friends tell each other the harsh truth when necessary.
They both understand the challenges Israel is facing as a democracy, with an independent judiciary and free press. They know minorities enjoy equal rights in Israel and that major steps had been taken to improve religious pluralism, gender equality and a responsible climate policy.
But they also know it would be very difficult to defend Israel's achievements if the next government was to include among its members the "extreme elements," who they equate to Americans who marched in Charlottesville in 2017, chanting "Jews will not replace us," or the election deniers who assaulted the Capital on January 6.
Some in the progressive camp do identify as progressive Zionists, who believe Israel shares similar values, such as justice and respect for human rights. To them, Israel is a democracy which is always improving and is deserving of progressive support.
There are new, young legislators such as New York Representative Ritchie Torres, Ohio Representative Shontel Brown, and Maxwell Frost from Florida - who is expected to join the House in November - who are invaluable partners for Israel in its efforts to maintain bi-partisan American support.
Israel can improve its standing with progressives by demonstrating to them the full and equal participation in of its Arab minority, religious freedom for all, gender equality and of course a willingness to negotiate a peace agreement with Palestinians.
But, by making decisions that contradict those values, Israel would make it very difficult for its allies in Congress, such as Sherman, Menendez and others - to continue their support.
The Democratic Party is not only the party currently in power in the U.S., it is also supported by most American Jews.
Its relations with Israel are in a crisis and by compounding it, Israel is putting its strategic relations with the U.S. at risk, threatening military aid and investments, which fuel the high-tech industry.
We are a sovereign nation and are responsible for making our own decisions, but when our greatest friend warns us that we are too drunk to drive, perhaps we should listen and order a cab.
The writer is a researcher and lecturer on politics and U.S. foreign relations and founder of Israeli-Democratic Alliance