Ben Gvir Rejects Report That Ethiopian Teen Was Served Only Grapes

A report in Yedioth Ahronoth claimed that an Ethiopian-Israeli teenager who had been hungry for hours was given only a cup of grapes during a visit to National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir’s office. The allegation, raised in questions sent by reporter Guy Assif, said the teen was made to wait a long time without proper food even after his hunger was known to those present, and that the claim was based on comments by MK Pnina Tamano-Shata.

Ben Gvir strongly denied the account and said the opposite was true. According to his official response, once he learned that the teenager had not eaten for hours, he immediately offered food and personally prepared a full plate for him. He said the encounter took place after he met the teen during a Knesset committee discussion and invited him and his mother to a longer meeting in his office.

The minister’s office said he also used the meeting to contact Police Commissioner Daniel Levy directly and seek help reviewing the teenager’s case and doing everything possible within his authority. As part of his rebuttal, Ben Gvir published the reporter’s question alongside a video of the meeting. He also attacked Tamano-Shata, calling her “that liar,” and ended by accusing Yedioth Ahronoth of lying, asking, “Yedioth Ahronoth, aren’t you tired of lying?”