Israeli Knesset (parliament) opposition leader Shaul Mofaz on Wednesday accused Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of exploiting tensions with Iran as a ruse to deflect the negative public opinion about him.

Speaking to Israel Radio, Mofaz said Netanyahu's frequent talk alluding to the possibility that Israel will attack Iran's nuclear facilities is meant to draw public opinion away from the criticism of the austerity plan he co-authored with Finance Minister Yuval Steinitz.

Mofaz also marked the failed recent attempt to draft a new military conscription bill for ultra-Orthodox yeshiva (seminary) students as a reason for Netanyahu's war talk.

The Israeli prime minister has suffered negative criticism in recent weeks over both issues.

The austerity plan, authorized on Monday, includes many tax hikes and budget cuts and is designated to curb a burgeoning 2012 budget. The plan drew fire from numerous factions affected by the legislation's stipulations.

Also, the government failed to find an alternative to the so- called Tal Law by August 1.

The decade-old law allowed ultra-Orthodox seminary students to defer their service until age 28. The law was overturned by the Supreme Court in January and expired on Wednesday.

Mofaz and Netanyahu, who had brought the former's Kadima party into the government coalition in May, descended into sharp disagreement over the failed draft bid. Mofaz led his members out of the coalition on July 18.

In the interview with Israel Radio, Mofaz said Netanyahu, who declared on Tuesday that Israel has a "free choice" in deciding whether to attack Iran, is motivated by fears of not being re- elected.

The opposition leader added that the United States must lead any possible future strike against Iran, and only after giving sanctions more time.

A series of senior U.S. diplomatic and security officials visited Israel in the last six months, reportedly attempting to prevent it from attacking Iran's nuclear facilities.

On Sunday, Mofaz warned that a preemptive unilateral strike on Iran's nuclear facilities could have "catastrophic" consequences for Israel.

"Such an attack would not greatly hinder Iran's nuclear ability, but is very likely to lead to war," he told the Channel 2 news.

On the same day, Defense Minister Ehud Barak said his country is "committed to doing everything it can in order to stop Iran from going nuclear," and said he is "fully aware of the difficulties and complexities involved in preventing Iran from attaining nuclear weapons."

On Tuesday, Netanyahu said that he is still deliberating whether or not to strike Iran's nuclear facilities, and downplayed a report saying military officials aren't in favor of attacking Iran.

Netanyahu and Barak's comments over a possible attack in Iran garnered criticism also from senior security chiefs, who U.S. officials said advised against a military operation in Iran.

Netanyahu's bureau, however, sharply dismissed the report.