The general election for the 18th Knesset will take place on February 10, 2009. Party registration is closed and parties are working in earnest to attract notables in time for the respective primary races.

** The Meretz and Meimad parties on Sunday night decided not to run under a joint slate and they will remain independent.

** Meretz leader Chaim Oron will meet again with Minister Ami Ayalon in the coming weeks. The two met on Sunday to discuss a possible merger agreement. Ayalon resigned from the Labor party but did not resign as an MK or cabinet minister.

** Likud Party officials await a decision from former IDF chief Moshe Ya’alon.

** Arkadi Gaydamak’s Social Justice Party is planning to run in the general election for the 18th Knesset.

** Ami Ayalon will head the left-wing religious Meimad Party. Ayalon himself is not a shomer Shabbos Jew.

** Eli Gabbai is contemplating leaving the National Religious Party and may move to Likud.

** Likud leader Binyamin Netanyahu told Central Committee Members on Sunday night that if elected, he will work towards establishing a national unity government.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)