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(Image: GLOBES/GETTY)

Authorities are convinced the pals were ripped off after their meal at Abu Ghosh restaurant on Friday September 2.

But the owner Jawdat Ibrahim insists the mates should have paid more and he "closed the place for them".

Mr Ibrahim, who reportedly opened the eatery in Jerusalem, Israel about five years ago, said: "They sat there from 3pm on Friday until midnight, and became rowdy and drunk. They asked me to buy alcoholic drinks. They asked that the bar should be kept available, they asked for 30kg of stuffed mutton and other dishes.

"It wasn't a case of eating and leaving, and they even took all their leftovers with them afterwards."

(Image: GETTY)

The bill shows the tourists paid the equivalent to £750 for a private room, a staggering £1,200 on booze and £600 on main courses alone.

But Mr Ibrahim reckons they should have coughed up "much more" cash.

He added: "They enjoyed themselves and thanked me.

"I thought they should pay much more, since I had no other diners that day."

However the businessman has been slammed by the outraged friends and tourism industry for "trying to cheat" his customers.

Yossi Fattal, chief executive of the Incoming Tour Operators Association, said the group arrived at 7pm, not 3pm, and had not ordered the alcohol. He alleged the booze was already at their table when the diners arrived.

He continued: "The Association decided to make this incident public in order to illustrate the importance of fair and polite treatment of tourists who come to Israel and are an important sector of the country's economy."