Israel's ambassador to London, Ron Prosor, is being considered for the post of temporary ambassador to the United Nations.

The UN post is considered one of the key diplomatic jobs. Often the position goes to a political appointee rather than a career diplomat. The current ambassador, Prof Gavriella Shalev, was appointed by former Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni. The government is determined to replace her by the time her two-year term ends in August.

Benjamin Netanyahu, himself a former ambassador to the UN in the 1980s, and Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman have so far failed to agree on a candidate, although the post was offered to Prof Alan Dershowitz, who turned the job down because it entailed taking Israeli citizenship.

As a result of their inability to fill the post and the urgency - the General Assembly begins its meetings in September - Mr Prosor is seen as the ideal compromise candidate.

The Foreign Ministry would not confirm Mr Prosor's candidacy and it is still not certain whether, if he gets the post on an interim basis, he will later return to London or whether, as so often, the temporary will become permanent.

Mr Prosor is trusted by the Likud government and seen as one of the country's most eloquent spokesmen.