The Meretz and Labor parties suffered the largest setbacks in Tuesday's election if the final results reflect exit poll results, which give them five and 13 Knesset Members respectively.
"The Left suffered a heavy blow," said Meretz chairman MK Chaim Oron. Maayan Amodai, head of the youth wing of Labor, also admitted to a heavy loss but added, "We expected it." Labor MK Ofir Pines-Paz commented that the voters sent a message that "Labor must sit in the opposition."
However, Labor chairman Defense Minister Ehud Barak said he has no intention to resign. He told supporters that he will continue to head the party in the Opposition, signaling to Kadima leader Tzipi Livni that she cannot count on Labor to be part of a national unity government she will try to form if her party continues to maintain its narrow lead over Likud.
Israel Is Our Home (Yisrael Beiteinu) representatives said they were not disappointed with the results although pre-election polls had indicated the party might win as many as 20 seats in the next Knesset.
The two national religious parties, Ichud Leumi (National Union) and Jewish Home, said they were pleased with the early indications. Jewish Home leader Rabbi Dr. Daniel Hershkowitz said that poll showing the party with four MKs is "a tremendous achievement."
National Union Knesset Member Uri Ariel said he was happy that the party won the minimum number of votes to enter the Knesset.