Former Israeli Ambassador Says Netanyahu Totally Failed to Achieve His War Goals

JAKARTA - The former Israeli Ambassador to Germany on Thursday harshly criticized Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, saying he made a "strategic miscalculation" that dragged Israel into a dangerous war whose goals were not fulfilled, leaving the country weakened on the world stage.

"Netanyahu has completely failed to achieve his war goals," Shimon Stein said in an interview with weekly magazine Die Zeit, quoted by Anadolu (19/6).

He emphasized that Netanyahu's dependence on threats and military action, without any political proposals, has put Israel in a precarious situation.

"It has made its country more dependent on the will of the US President and more isolated internationally," said Stein. "Israel is in a terrible strategic position, with unpredictable consequences," he criticized.

Stein, who served as Israel's ambassador to Germany from 2001 to 2007, expressed deep concern about the direction of the country under Netanyahu, whose political survival, he said, depends on support from ultra-Orthodox parties.

The diplomat said Germany must take a tougher stance and increase pressure on Prime Minister Netanyahu's government, including through targeted sanctions on right-wing cabinet ministers.

"Should the delivery of weapons to Israel be stopped? It will not produce anything other than further hardening Israel's stance," he said.

"Should Israeli ministers be sanctioned? Yes, of course - and we should also not forget who their bosses are!" he said.

Stein also supported the call of several EU member states to ban the import of goods produced in Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank.

The veteran diplomat said that amid the latest developments in the region, he was "very concerned" about Israel's future.

"Can we - as I hope - live in peace with our neighbors in a democratic Jewish state? These are big questions that I don't know the answer to," Stein said.