Three Knesset Members of the dwindling Meretz party are vying to lead the left-wing party in Tuesday's elections, in which 15,000 voters can participate. MK Haim Oron, who favors joining the coalition government under certain conditions, leads MKs Ran Cohen and Zahava Gal-On.

If none of the candidates receives more than 50 percent of the votes, a second round of balloting will be held. MK Oron is backed by current party chairman, Prof. Yossi Beilin. The party has five Knesset mandates, the lowest ever, and is faring poorly in polls, most of which show the party dropping to four seats.