National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and his wife, Ayala, were seen angrily leaving the annual torch-lighting ceremony on Mount Herzl in Jerusalem on Tuesday after they were asked to change seats.
Ben-Gvir had occupied a seat designated for Argentine President Javier Milei, one of those honored with the task of carrying a torch at this year's ceremony.
The event's organizer told Maariv that Ben-Gvir had his own assigned seats in the "distinguished gallery" seating section, but had elected to leave the ceremony entirely.
In addition, MK Tally Gotliv was seen on video confronting an event worker after being told she had not been reserved a seat in the section, according to a KAN report.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was seated next to Milei at the ceremony, which kicked off Israel's 78th Independence Day.
Netanyahu was accompanied by his wife, Sara, IDF Chief of the General Staff Eyal Zamir, and other dignitaries as the ceremony progressed under the slogan "Strengths of Renewal."
This year's torch bearers
Apart from Milei, those carrying a torch this year will be the Coordinator for the Hostages and Missing Brig. Gen. (res.) Gal Hirsch, entrepreneur, Gili Raanan, chef, Assaf Granit, and filmmaker Moshe Edri.
The ceremony included a performance by singer Yoram Gaon, featuring a mockup of an IDF war room and Israel's Iron Beam laser defense system, which then opened to reveal one of the Nova Festival organizers as a DJ. Wounded IDF soldiers and their families were also welcomed to the stage.