Yitzhak Herzog, Tzipi Livni
Yitzhak Herzog, Tzipi LivniFlash 90

Labor-Hatnua leader Tzipi Livni is expected to announce the induction of a new candidate to the Labor party Sunday: journalist Ksenia Svetlova. 

Svetlova is a writer and commentator on Channel 9, a news agency for the Israeli Arab community.

She holds a doctorate in Middle Eastern Studies from Hebrew University of Jerusalem and has contributed to several English-language news outlets on a variety of topics. 

Svetlova is expected to be placed as #23 on the Labor list - potentially a realistic spot, considering recent polls suggesting Labor could gain as many as 26 seats in the 20th Knesset. The spot was reserved for candidates of Hatnua. 

Kasenia will be one of a handful of new faces on the political scene - particularly in Labor - and is the third well-known journalist to run for office in the current round of elections.

In December, Walla! News editor Yinon Magal joined Jewish Home; he was followed one week later by veteran journalist and radio host Sharon Gal, who joined Yisrael Beytenu