Former Haaretz editor-in-chief David Landau died on Tuesday in Jerusalem at the age of 67.

The British-born journalist moved to Israel in 1970 and spent 20 years working at the Jerusalem Post as diplomatic correspondent before becoming as managing editor.

He joined Haaretz in 1993 and founded the English language edition of the paper in 1997. He held the post of editor-in-chief from 2004 to 2008 and was still writing columns for Haaretz until last year.

Mr Landau wrote a number of books including a 2014 biography of Ariel Sharon.

Haaretz publisher Amos Schocken said: “David Landau’s untimely death is a very great loss, not just for his family and his many friends, but also for Haaretz and for journalism in general.

"As a Haaretz staffer for many years, and especially during his tenure as editor-in-chief, David made an enormous contribution to the paper as an enlightened Zionist intellectual, a liberal in the full sense of the word and a believing Jew, and he demonstrated that there is no inherent contradiction in these things."

Haaretz editor-in-chief Aluf Benn said: “David was a reporter through and through, always on the hunt for a better story. He guided the paper through the Gaza disengagement and the Second Lebanon War, guided by his moral compass, seeking to end the occupation even through political detours.

“Our joint trips with the prime minister’s entourage were among the best in my years of covering the diplomatic beat. David led us to big scoops on the way.”

Mr Landau is survived by his wife Jackie and three children.