( CNN ) As Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu heads to the United States , some former security leaders from Israel have come out against his speech to Congress , set for Tuesday . Speaking at a Tel Aviv press conference , retired Maj. Gen. Amnon Reshef , one of the founders of Commanders for Israel 's Security , said the speech -- expected to take a hard line on Iran 's nuclear ambitions -- is `` a terrible mistake '' that will further damage the relationship between the U.S. and Israel . He also said the speech could harm Israel 's security by damaging Israel 's relationship with other countries . On Friday , Meir Dagan , the former head of Israel 's intelligence agency , Mossad , told one of the leading Israeli newspapers , Yedioth Ahronoth : `` The person who has caused the greatest strategic damage to Israel on the Iranian issue is the prime minister . '' Dagan , who was the director of Mossad from 2002 to 2010 , continued , `` I 've seen leaders who made decisions and then later admitted that they had erred . Nobody is immune from mistakes . The difference between him and others is the willingness to take responsibility . He is strong on talk , not in action . '' Recent polling by CNN affiliate Channel 10 Israel shows Israelis split on the speech , with 38 % supporting it and the same percentage opposing it . The remaining 24 % are undecided . But another poll from Panels Politics , an Israeli polling institute , indicates 53 % of Israelis believe the speech will have no effect on the negotiations between six world powers and Iran over Tehran 's nuclear program . Another 30 % believe the speech will affect the negotiations . Reshef said this year 's elections , which will take place on March 17 , exactly two weeks after Netanyahu 's speech , are crucial for the peace process . Even after years of failed negotiations , Israel has the opportunity now to restart negotiations with the help of moderate Arab states , he said , while warning that going the wrong direction could push peace further out of reach . Reshef would not specify which political leaders would be the best for negotiations , but he said he trusts Israeli voters to decide for themselves in the upcoming elections . Commanders for Israel 's Security is a nonpartisan group of nearly 200 veteran senior security members from the Israel Defense Forces ; Shin Bet , Israel 's internal security agency ; and the police . It is committed to a regional political-security initiative to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict . The group also seeks to normalize relations with moderate Arab states such as Egypt , Saudi Arabia , Jordan and the United Arab Emirates . 6 questions about Netanyahu 's visit .
Retired general says Netanyahu speech will damage Israel-U.S. relationship . Israel has been criticized for its treatment of the Palestinians in recent years and Obama said he would not be lectured by Netanyahu's speech.