105 former ambassadors and retired senior officials from the Foreign Ministry on Wednesday sent a letter to Prime Minister-designate Benjamin Netanyahu in which they warned against extreme policies by his new government.

The diplomats claimed that the consequences of the policy of the emerging government could result, as they put it, in "severe damage to Israel's foreign relations".

Netanyahu was asked in the letter "not to abandon the international arena and prevent damage to the vital interests of the state and its citizens."

"As those who know the international community very well," the senior officials wrote, "we fear that the latest developments in the domestic arena will provoke a harsh international reaction, damage to the strategic ties with the US and Europe, damage to the Abraham Accords and to measures against Israel, its government, its soldiers and citizens in the international courts. We are also very concerned over harm being caused to the important fabric of relations between Israel and the Jewish communities around the world."

They expressed concerns that the policies of the new government may harm Israel at the International Criminal Court. "The concerns we raise before you here have various supports that have already been expressed by friends of Israel as well as by those who are not our friends abroad. Over the years we have been entrusted with establishing and strengthening the foreign relations of the State of Israel as a Jewish and democratic state with liberal values."

"We implore you and the incoming government under your leadership to give the necessary priority to foreign policy and not neglect the international arena in recognition of how critical these issues are to the preservation and promotion of Israel's resilience and to act to prevent damage to the vital interests of the state and its citizens," the ambassadors concluded.