Israel's right-wing Likud party chief Benjamin Netanyahu conceded defeat in Tuesday's parliamentary election.

Netanyahu made a emotional speech in Tel Aviv after his Likud party was defeated in the election with gaining only 11 to 12 seats, as showed by an exit poll released at 10 p.m. (2000 GMT).

"We have no doubt the Likud has suffered a tough blow," said Netanyahu.

The hardline politician said that he would stay as Likud leader despite the heavy blow.

"I intend to continue along the path we have only just begun in order to ensure this movement is rehabilitated and takes its rightful place in the nation's leadership," Netanyahu said.

According to the exit poll results on Tuesday night, the centrist Kadima party led by Acting Prime Minister Ehud Olmert was about to win 29 to 32 seats, emerging as the biggest winner in the election.

The center-left Labor came in a strong second with 20 to 22 seats, and the Russian immigrant-dominated Yisrael Beiteinu party came the third with 12 to 14 seats.

Likud, which was co-founded by now comatose Prime Minister Ariel Sharon decades ago, was one of the dominant parties in Israeli history.

Since Sharon's quit Likud and formed Kadima last November, many Likud members followed Sharon into the Kadima, which left Likud in a poor position in Tuesday's election.

If the poll results were accurate, Likud would become the fourth party in Israeli politics.

Source: Xinhua