Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday appointed the deputy head of the Shin Bet internal security agency as acting chief for one month, pending the completion of procedures to appoint David Zini as the agency’s permanent head.

The Israeli officials — Ron Dermer, a top adviser to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and David Barnea, the chief of the Mossad spy agency — are expected to travel Friday. They’ll see Steve Witkoff, a top envoy of President Donald Trump.

Fear is growing in the Middle East that Israel will soon launch an attack on Iran. The U.S. has already begun pulling some nonessential personnel out of the region, including at the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad.

New revelations that spyware made by a U.S-backed Israeli company was used against at least three European journalists have raised concerns about abuse of commercial spyware even in democratic countries.

"What Netanyahu is doing, and a group of thugs, which are part of his Cabinet, is polarizing the Israeli society," Ehud Olmert said.

The Israeli military said its forces fired warning shots toward suspects who were advancing while posing a threat to the troops.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faces a vote to dissolve parliament and key coalition partners have threatened to bring down his government.