Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected criticism by a senior Israeli official that past governments lagged in their efforts to curb the Iranian nuclear threat, local daily Ha'aretz reported on its website Sunday.

"The prime minister is not willing to discuss directly the way in which Israeli governments have dealt with the Iranian threat -- neither in the past nor at present," Netanyahu's office said in a statement, referring to his national security adviser Uzi Arad's comments in an interview with Ha'aretz published Friday.

"However, the prime minister knows that the subject of Iran has topped the agenda of every Israeli government," said the statement. "Netanyahu appreciates the important contributions they have made on this matter over the years, particularly those made by (chief of Mossad, Israeli intelligence agency) Meir Dagan."

Arad, who also held the post of national security adviser in Netanyahu's first government, said in the interview that past Israeli governments focused their efforts on other issues at the expense of dealing properly with the Iranian threat.

"The leadership scattered its efforts and resources instead of concentrating them," he said. "It preoccupied itself with other issues, such as the disengagement and Annapolis... it did not home in on the main issue -- Iran."

Arad criticized the preceding governments for what he called a "gross failure" on the issue and a "waste of political assets."

"Between 2003 and 2007, it was far easier to contain Iran. The Iranian program was lagging behind. American power was more blatant. Various big powers were inclined to cooperate. Iran was more cautious and more vulnerable. But what preoccupied us in 2005? The disengagement. And what preoccupied us in 2007? Annapolis," he said.

Israel and the United States have accused Iran of trying to develop nuclear weapons under the cover of a civilian nuclear program, but Iran has repeatedly denied the allegations, insisting that its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes only.

For years Israel has made no secret of its fears that Iran wishes to destroy the Jewish state. Israeli officials have repeatedly said that Israel will not rule out any option regarding the Iranian nuclear program.

(Xinhua News Agency July 13, 2009)