Gadi Eisenkot, a former IDF chief and leader of the Yashar opposition party, has described the US-Iran peace deal as the “dismal outcome of a failed government”.

Mr Eisenkot, a frontrunner to replace Benjamin Netanyahu in the October election, said there is “a vast gulf” between Netanyahu’s “empty promises of total victory” and the peace deal.

He also criticised the Israeli Prime Minister for not addressing the public about the deal directly, adding that Israelis are frequently learning of major developments from foreign leaders rather than from their own government.

His comments form part of growing Israeli criticism of the peace agreement.