U.S. officials often intervene in the internal affairs of other countries, usually while insisting no such thing is happening. Often, such activities are aimed at undermining unfriendly governments.

It comes as no surprise, then, that President Barack Obama’s administration attempted to influence politics in Israel. Clearly, the White House views the Jewish state as an unfriendly foreign power.

All that takes none of the distaste out of thoughtful people in this country and Israel, however, because of Obama’s shameless, dishonest hypocrisy in criticizing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Before and after Netanyahu addressed a joint session of Congress earlier this month, the Obama administration and leading liberals were strident in their criticism. Netanyahu’s visit was wholly undiplomatic, intended to influence U.S. politics and bolster the prime minster’s attempt to remain in office after an election.

That balloting was held and, to Obama’s disgust, Netanyahu held on to power.

Now it develops the State Department spent about $350,000 in 2013-14 to aid an Israeli group, OneVoice, that opposes that country’s policies and tried to defeat Netanyahu in the election. In addition, Jeremy Bird, a strategist from Obama’s 2012 reelection campaign, went to Israel to help the group.

Both Democrat and Republican members of Congress want to know more about the intervention. They should investigate – knowing they cannot trust the White House to reveal the truth.