Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert made clear his opposition to the current Israeli government on Wednesday, speaking to Al Arabiya English’s Tom Burgess Watson. He warned the Netanyahu government poses a danger to Israel’s own security as its diplomatic rupture with the UK over West Bank settlement expansion deepens.For all the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.Speaking from Tel Aviv, Olmert, who served as Prime Minister from 2006-2009, placed the blame for Isreal’s growing international isolation squarely on the current governments policy. He pointed to the outsized role of Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben-Gvir, in shaping the direction of government, men he branded “extreme radicals” and “messianic fundamentalists,” backed fully by Netanyahu. Given the conduct of the administration, he said, the hostile reaction from Western allies was “almost inevitable.”The comments come days after Israel’s Foreign Minister, Gideon Sa’ar described the UK governments action to block trade and services for illegal settlements in the West Bank as “outrageous” and “morally distorted” and warned of a forceful response should London press ahead with sanctions. The UK moved to sanction Israeli settler colonies following the approval of the E1 project which would sever the northern and southern West Bank and has been widely described, by opponents and proponents alike, as an existential threat to a Palestinian state.Olmert rejected Sa’ar’s framing, insisting the UK “is not hostile to the State of Israel” and has been “a supporter and friendly partner” for decades. He dismissed accusations that the British stance was antisemitic as “the easiest way of avoiding [dealing] with the issues,” arguing that opposition to settler violence was not the same as opposition to Jews.Commenting on Israel shutting down the British consulate in East Jerusalem Olmert described it as a “a childish and extreme reaction,” and said he hoped the dispute would not escalate “into something more aggressive on both sides.”He argued the rupture with London is a symptom of something far bigger. Asked why Israel appeared to be singling out Britain for retaliation when 11 other countries announced similar measures, he said it was easier to “attack one country” than to acknowledge that unease over the war and settlement expansion is now “a widespread attitude now shared by so many countries.”He also said that Israel had “never” been this diplomatically isolated, calling it “the worst possible time” for Israel’s standing in the world. Indeed, even the US President who has been historically lenient on illegal Israeli settlements, did not push back on the British embargo when briefed by British Prime Minister Andy Burnham, a Western official told The Times of Israel on Wednesday.Israelis will go to the polls on October 27 for an election in which Netanyahu is seeking to extend his mandate. Olmert argued many Israelis were “sick and tired” of the government’s rhetoric and predicted this would show at the ballot box.