Benjamin Netanyahu, leader of Israel’s rightwing Likud party, became the likeliest candidate to lead the country’s next government after winning the backing on Thursday of the ultranationalist Yisrael Beiteinu party.

Avigdor Lieberman, the far-right leader of Yisrael Beiteinu, said he had dec­id­ed to recommend to Shimon Peres, Israel’s president, that he select Mr Netanyahu to put together a new government following last week’s inconclusive elections.