JERUSALEM
Israel's opposition Zionist Union leader Isaac Herzog has conceded defeat in Tuesday's Knesset (parliament) elections and phoned Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to congratulate him on his Likud's victory.
"A few minutes ago I spoke with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and congratulated him on his achievement and wished him luck," Herzog was quoted by Yedioth Ahronoth as telling reporters.
He also asserted that his alliance would continue to be an alternative to the right-wing Likud, the paper reported.
"I think that right now what Israel needs most of all is another voice, a voice that provides an alternative and a voice that still tells the truth – our real truth, a truth that received truly huge support, a truth that has not won such support in nearly a generation," Herzog said.
Exit-poll results have revealed that the Likud party garnered 30 seats, while its center-left rival, the Zionist Union alliance, came second with 24 seats.
The Joint Arab list came third with 13 seats, followed by Yesh Atid with 12 seats, exit polls showed.
The election commission said that the voter turnout in Tuesday's elections stood at 71.8 percent.
According to the electoral commission, official poll results will be announced on Thursday.
