Zionist Union leader Isaac Herzog said on Wednesday afternoon that after his party's election defeat to the Likud the "only realistic option" for his party was to be in the opposition.
Herzog's Labor party formed the Zionist Union with Tzipi Livni's Hatnua party hoping that the move would result in an election result that could unseat Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. But the Likud ended up winning 30 Knesset seats to the Zionist Union's 24.
"We have proven that we know how to be a fighting opposition," Herzog said at Labor headquarters in Tel Aviv.
Herzog said that the Zionist Union would present viable alternatives in all areas and in all subjects to the future "extreme right-wing" government.
Herzog said he and Livni would continue to lead a large and strong sector of the Israeli public that wants a Jewish and democratic state that is both safe and just.
"We will not apologize and we will not lower our flags, but we will serve the people who took to the streets and to the ballot box with a big hopes," Herzog said.
Herzog called Netanyahu on Wednesday morning to congratulate him on the Likud win.
Livni said she woke up Wednesday morning with a difficult feeling.
"I learned that Herzog was a brave leader that loves the nation of Israel,"Livni said of her co-leader.
"The Netanyahu dream government is the nightmare government for Israel and therefore we must not give up and we need to fight for our path from the opposition," Livni said.