A prominent Israeli MP, Uzi Landau, says he will challenge the Prime Minister, Binyamin Netanyahu, for the leadership of the Likud bloc as it prepares for elections next year.

Mr Landau, who is chairman of the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defence committee, acknowledged that his chances of unseating Mr Netanyahu were slim.

However, he already has the backing of former prime minister, Yitzhak Shamir.

Earlier, one of Israel's leading right-wingers, the mayor of Jerusalem Ehud Olmert, announced he would not run against Mr Netanyahu.