New Hope has issued an explanation as to why MK Halevi returned despite the opposition agreeing to reduce their own number to allow him to observe a period of mourning for his recently deceased sister.
"It was agreed that MK Yoav Bentzur of the Likud would be absent to accommodate MK Halevi's period of mourning. Bentzur then arrived and asked that the agreement be moved to a different MK; this is something that has never been allowed, and we view it as regretable that they would try and resort to it," New Hope announced.