JERUSALEM, Aug 14 (Reuters) - Israeli opposition leader Benjamin Netanyahu ran for re-election as head of the rightist Likud Party on Tuesday, with pundits predicting an easy win for a man seen as Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's main challenger.

Netanyahu, a hawkish ex-premier, has soared in opinion polls since last year's inconclusive war against Lebanese Hezbollah guerrillas and the rise of Palestinian Islamist group Hamas.

Political analysts expected Netanyahu to take well over 50 percent of votes in the Likud election, which began at 10 a.m. (0700 GMT). Final results are due in after 11 p.m. (2000 GMT).

Netanyahu's two challengers were Moshe Feiglin, a Jewish ultranationalist, and junior Likud politician Danny Danon.

Israeli general elections are due in 2010 but, with Olmert's near record low approval ratings, some commentators anticipate a face-off between him and Netanyahu as early as next year. Olmert is from the centrist Kadima party.

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