Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly held a heated conversation with the head of the Mossad, David Barnea, after Barnea sent a letter to the attorney general opposing Netanyahu’s choice for the next director of the Israeli foreign intelligence agency. Netanyahu was said to be angered that the letter was sent without his knowledge and requested a copy, telling Barnea he felt the move was made behind his back.

Barnea’s opposition concerns Major General Roman Gofman, currently the prime minister’s military secretary. The dispute centers on Gofman’s authorization of a 2022 influence operation while serving in the Israel Defense Forces, in which a 17-year-old, Ori Elmakayes, was used in an Arabic-language social media campaign.

Elmakayes was later detained and interrogated by the Shin Bet domestic security agency, held in isolation for two months, charged with espionage offenses, and imprisoned for 18 months before the charges were ultimately dropped. Gofman has said he was unaware of the teen’s age and insisted that only non-classified material was approved for publication.

Barnea reportedly told a committee that any commander who violates army procedures faces serious consequences and argued that even an official reprimand should disqualify a candidate from promotion, especially to lead the Mossad.