American 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 seems to view the Jewish state as an unfriendly foreign power.

Before and after Netanyahu addressed a joint session of Congress earlier this month, the Obama administration and leading liberals were strident in their criticism. They argued that 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 re-election campaign, went to Israel to help the group.

Both Democratic and Republican members of Congress want to know more about the intervention. They should investigate.

The American people deserve to know whether or not these claims are true.