Meretz Party Chairman Haim Oron said Sunday that he will not quit, despite petitions calling for him to do so in the wake of the party's loss of Knesset seats in last week's election. Speaking at a party gathering on Sunday, Oron said he would step down if called upon to do so by an established body within the party. He added that taking responsibility meant working for the party's rehabilitation.

Oron was supported by fellow Knesset Member Avshalom Vilan who said that now was not the time for party in-fighting. Vilan said that the ruling Kadima party will break up and that new parties (such as Meretz and the new leftist party) have to be connected and present a governmental alternative in the future. There was also a petition that said that Oron should not quit.