Jerusalem - Israel's former ambassador to the United Nations launched an attack on UN atomic watchdog chief Mohamed ElBaradei Friday, calling him "irresponsible" and his upcoming departure from the job a case of "good riddance."

"The truth is that the best message in the report of Mohamed ElBaradei is that it is apparently his last report," Daniel Gillerman told Israel Radio.

ElBaradei, he charged, "never fulfilled his job with integrity" and "was one of the central factors in the delay of meaningful decisions and sanctions against Iran."

Also when there were countries who supported sanctions, in his reports "he always coloured things in very unrealistic colours," he said.

Gillerman accused the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) chief of taking political and "very unfair, nonobjective positions, especially regarding Israel."

"I really think it is good that he is leaving his job. It is a job that is too central, too important to be left it in the hands of such an irresponsible man," he said.

His comments came after a spat at an IAEA board of governors meeting in Vienna Thursday, at which ElBaradei lashed out at Israel over its lack of cooperation in uncovering the truth about an alleged nuclear reactor in Syria.

Israel's observer at the agency, Ambassador Israel Michaeli, objected to the insertion of Israel's name into the report about Syria, charging it was "irrelevant" to the investigation under discussion.

Israel had already responded to the agency's application regarding uranium particles found at the site of the Syrian nuclear plant in Dair Alzour, he said.

"Israel calls on the IAEA Director General to prevent political bias in the investigation into Syria's covert nuclear activities," said a statement issued by the Israeli Foreign Ministry issued late Thursday.

Israel bombed the suspected al-Kibar nuclear site in 2007 without first informing the IAEA. The nuclear agency has repeatedly called on Israel to share intelligence information, while Israel has urged the IAEA to step up its efforts.

ElBaradei called the bombing a "clear violation of international law."

Syria has so far only permitted one visit by IAEA inspectors at the bombed site and claims al-Kibar was a conventional military installation.

At their only visit to al-Kibar, agency experts found particles of man-made uranium which were not part of the nuclear material declared to the IAEA.

In addition, the organization is investigating the origin of additional traces of man-made uranium found at a small scientific reactor in Damascus. (dpa)