Jerusalem ( CNN ) -- Israel 's former security chief is slamming the country 's prime minister and defense minister for their handling of Iran , saying neither one inspires confidence . `` I do n't trust a leadership that relies on messianic leadership , '' said Yuval Diskin , the former head of the Shin Bet , the country 's internal security service , at a public conference Friday night in Israel . `` Our two messiahs from Caesaria and from the Akiorv Towers are not fit to stand at the helm of the government , '' Diskin said , referring to the respective residences of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Ehud Barak . His comments were widely reported in the Israeli media Saturday . Barak said while he welcomed Diskin 's entry into politics , the comments are irresponsible . `` It is both embarrassing and saddening to see the weakening of judgment and responsibility and the low language a man who served the public for years was dragged into , '' said a statement from Barak 's office . `` Diskin is acting in a petty , irresponsible manner motivated by personal frustration . He is harming the heritage of generations of Shin Bet heads and the operational norms of the organization . '' A senior Israeli government official said that the comments lacked credibility because the domestic security focus of the Shin Bet made the organization a `` peripheral player '' when it comes to Iran . The same official , who declined to be named publicly due to the sensitivity of the issue , said Diskin 's comments were `` both surprising and strange '' because he had worked under both Netanyahu and Barak , and sought to become Mossad director under their leadership . `` Are you saying these things because you did n't get the position ? '' the official asked rhetorically , adding that Diskin 's attack seemed more `` personal than policy . '' Diskin , a widely respected former security official , also took the two Israeli leaders to task for mis-characterizing the possible effectiveness of a military strike against Iran and its nuclear program . He said the Israeli government presented `` a false view to the public on the Iranian bomb , as though acting against Iran would prevent a nuclear bomb . But attacking Iran will encourage them to develop a bomb all the faster . '' It is not the first time a high-profile figure has criticized the Israeli government 's handling of Iran . Meir Dagan , the former chief of Israel 's spy agency , the Mossad , has been a frequent and vocal critic of talk about an Israel strike on Iran , famously calling it a `` stupid idea . '' Israeli vice-premier and Likud party member Silvan Shalom told the Jerusalem Post that Diskin should not have spoken in public . `` I think that Diskin was wrong to say what he did , and that when he considers what he said he will realize that he was wrong , '' Shalom said . Diskin 's blunt commentary follows controversial remarks by Israel 's top general , who said Iran is led by `` very rational people '' and does n't appear poised to build a nuclear bomb that would threaten his nation . Iran `` is going step by step to the place where it will be able to decide whether to manufacture a nuclear bomb , '' Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Benny Gantz told Israel 's Haaretz newspaper in Wednesday editions . `` It has n't yet decided whether to go the extra mile . '' Those comments were in stark contrast to those of Netanyahu , who suggested to CNN that time is running out for Western sanctions on Iran to have a meaningful effect on Tehran 's nuclear program . The sanctions `` are certainly taking a bite out of the Iranian economy , '' Netanyahu said in an interview broadcast Tuesday on CNN 's `` Erin Burnett OutFront . '' But , he said , `` They have n't rolled back the Iranian program -- or even stopped it -- by one iota . ''
NEW : Netanyahu describes Barak comments as 'irresponsible ' the Shin Bet is the former head of Ehud Barak , the country 's internal security service . He accuses Netanyahu and Barak of mischaracterizing the possible effectiveness of attacking Iran . Netanyahu says sanctions are not having a meaningful effect on Iran 's nuclear program .