Tel Aviv, February 28 (RHC)-- A former head of Israel’s Mossad spy agency has criticized the regime’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for antagonizing Washington over Iran’s nuclear program. “The person who has caused the greatest strategic damage to Israel on the Iranian issue is the prime minister,” said Meir Dagan in an interview with the Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth released on Friday.

Dagan accused Netanyahu of bringing “intolerable” risks upon the Israeli regime by fraying ties with the U.S., adding the premier’s policies are detrimental to Tel Aviv’s future and security. He also denounced Netanyahu’s trip to Washington and his scheduled address to the U.S. Congress as pointless and counterproductive because the U.S. administration opposes Netanyahu’s stance on Iran’s nuclear talks.

“Netanyahu may get applause in Congress, but all the power is in the White House. What will Netanyahu gain by addressing Congress? I just don’t understand it. Is his goal to get a standing ovation? This trip to Washington is doomed to failure,” the former Mossad chief pointed out.

Netanyahu is set to address the U.S. Congress on March 3rd at the invitation of US House of Representatives Speaker John Boehner. He is expected to use the opportunity to condemn a potential nuclear agreement between Iran and the P5+1 group. The scheduled speech by Netanyahu has made the Washington administration furious as it comes ahead of crucial nuclear negotiations between Iran and the P5+1 countries – Britain, France, China, Russia, and the United States plus Germany – that are working hard to reach a comprehensive nuclear accord.