And with the beleaguered Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu already being disparagingly referred to as a lame duck, it is clear a bruising and divisive battle lies ahead.

Although most candidates have yet to declare themselve publicly, the most frequently mentioned names are:

Mr Netanyahu: Under fire from all sides

Binyamin Netanyahu

The current prime minister and leader of the right-wing Likud believes the West Bank is the Jewish people's God-given birthright.

Mr Netanyahu, 49, rejects the concept of a Palestinian state.

He defeated incumbent Shimon Peres in the 1996 election by less than 1% of the vote with a promise to deliver peace with security.

But his coalition is now in tatters over his land-for-security deal with the Palestinians.

Mr Barak refused to form a national unity government

Ehud Barak

Mr Barak, a former army chief of staff and Israel's most decorated soldier, is the leader of the opposition Labour Party.

He succeeded Mr Peres as Labour leader in June last year - just two years after joining the party.

Mr Barak, 56, served as foreign minister under Mr Peres, but has a prickly relationship with his former boss. He accepts the idea of a Palestinian state.

Earlier this year he alienated Israelis by saying that had he been born Palestinian he would have become a guerrilla. Mr Barak also made a name for himself in 1973 when, disguised as a woman, he took part in a raid into Beirut in which three PLO leaders were killed.

General Amnon Shahak: Untainted by political statements

General Amnon Lipkin-Shahak

A popular former army chief of staff who will be entering politics for the first time if he stands for election.

A recent Gallup poll showed he would command support of 52% compared to 35% for Mr Netanyahu.

Mr Shahak, 54, who has been on leave since stepping down as chief of staff in July, has avoided questions about politics until he formally leaves the army.

But his aides have said he would stand for the premiership if an early election were held. They also said he planned to form a centre grouping which would take votes from supporters of both Labour and the Likud.

Correspondents say Mr Shahak could stand a good chance because he is a new arrival untainted by any political statements.

Dan Meridor: Ex-finance minister first to declare

Dan Meridor

Dan Meridor, 51, a former Likud minister and a moderate was the first contender to throw his hat in the ring the morning after the parliamentary vote.

Mr Meridor resigned as finance minister in June 1997 after a disagreement with Mr Netanyahu over currency controls.

He said he would form his own party saying he was sorry to leave the party but "Likud had no chance of ousting Netanyahu".

"We need to save the country from Mr Netanyahu's dangerous magic," he said.

According to political commentators, Mr Meridor may have difficulty in overcoming his image among many Israelis as a "wimp".

Mr Begin says the PM has sold out

Binyamin Ze'ev Begin

Mr Begin is a hardline member of the Likud and son of the party's founder, the late prime minister Menachem Begin.

He has accused Mr Netanyahu of "dividing Jerusalem".

The 55-year-old geologist resigned as science minister in 1997 in protest against the government's deal to cede part of the West Bank town of Hebron to Palestinian rule.

Correspondents say Mr Begin believes the prime minister has abandoned right wing principles and may set up his own party.