As the general elections approach, new political parties are forming to make a run for Knesset seats. They run the gamut from right to left, religious and secular. In addition, several familiar parties are making new acquisitions ahead of the coming campaign season.
The Obama Effect
A group of former Student Union leaders and young city politicians is planning to establish a new party to 
Members of the Labor party have joined with activists from the far-left.
represent Israel's youth. The group hopes to take advantage of the recent success of many young politicians in municipal elections and of what they term "the Obama effect" to enter the next Knesset.
The group is led by former Student Union head Boaz Toporovsky. He has served as the head of the Tel Aviv Student Union and as a senior adviser to Welfare Minister Yitzchak Herzog. He recently left the Labor party.
New Blood on the Left
Other former supporters and members of the Labor party have joined with activists from the far-left of the Israeli political spectrum to form a new left-wing party.
Last week, 31 politicians, businesspeople, actors, authors and others gathered in Tel Aviv to announce the formation of the new, as-yet-unnamed party. It will include and be led by the veteran far-left Meretz party and will possibly include the left-wing religious Meimad faction, which was previously absorbed into the Labor party.
Post-Zionist ideologue and former Labor party government minister Avram Burg was in attendance at the foundational meeting for the new faction, as was Peace Now Chairman Tzali Reshef and well-known author Amos Oz. Meretz Chairman Haim Oron said that he intends to head the new political framework, but the division of seats within the party is still undecided.
Also seen as top recruits for the new party are Minister Ami Ayalon, who announced his departure from Labor, and TV journalist Meirav Michaeli. Michaeli, known for her flamboyant style and her support for feminist enterprises, has not yet responded to overtures from the new party.
Respect and Tradition
Attorney Shlomo Deri has registered a new political party called Respect and Tradition: The Social National Party. Shlomo Deri's brother, Aryeh Deri is a former high-ranking and popular member of Shas who was jailed on corruption charges. Aryeh has neither confirmed nor denied rumors that he is involved in the new party.
Shas sources quoted by the Maariv newspaper accused the Deri brothers of attempting to pressure Shas to reinstate Aryeh Deri. While other sources put a more ideological spin on the new party, saying that Shas is no longer a voice for the people it purports to represent; rather, Shas has become a vehicle for the Hareidi-religious interests alone.
'Hope' on the Right
MKs Effie Eitam and Aryeh Eldad of the National Union party will meet Tuesday to discuss their political options. Both plan to leave the National Union, which is formally merging with the National Religious Party.
Eitam has said he is planning to join the larger center-right Likud party. Polls show Eitam bringing another two or three seats to the Likud. Eldad has created his own party called HaTikvah ("The Hope"), which he says will differ from the National Union by being more open to the secular public.
Former Likud MK, minister and right-wing icon Uzi Landau has elected to join Yisrael Beiteinu, headed by former minister Avigdor Lieberman.
The Likud's Musical Chairs
Returning to politics after a long hiatus, son of former Prime Minister Menachem Begin, Benny, has joined the
Begin brings an air of modesty and honesty.Likud party. Benny Begin brings an air of modesty and honesty to Israeli politics, while also remaining a dedicated ideologue of the Right.
Other new faces competing for a place on the Likud party's Knesset list will be former Sderot Mayor Eli Moyal and former Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff Moshe Yaalon. Also in the running is Moshe Muskal, who lost his son Refanael in the Second Lebanon War. Muskal led the struggle of bereaved parents for government accountability over the conflict.
Livni Tries to Plug the Leaking Ship
Kadima party leader Tzipi Livni and Vice Premier Chaim Ramon met Monday night following a Kadima meeting to discuss Ramon's staying in politics in general and the party in particular, according to the Yediot Aharonot newspaper.
Livni said she was interested in Ramon staying on. According to other Kadima sources, she views him as a political asset and thinks that his leaving will hurt the party.
The Kadima party just lost MK Ze'ev Elkin, who quit the party. He wrote to Livni that Kadima is pursuing "extreme left" ideas and was a "deep disappointment." Elkin, born in Kharkov, Ukraine, was the Secretary-General of the Bnei Akiva Movement in the Soviet Union before his Aliyah in 1990.