During the Miss Universe pageant in Las Vegas, numerous photos were released, but one selfie became particularly newsworthy and sparked intense reactions. According to News Australia, Sarah Idan, Miss Iraq, took a joint selfie with Adar Gandelsman, Miss Israel, and shared it on social media with the caption: "Love and peace from the Miss Iraq and Miss Israel." Many Arab social media users reacted, reminding that Iraq does not have diplomatic relations with Israel and considers it an "occupying country." Some responses indicated that promoting peace in this manner is not to everyone's taste. Asad Abdul Khalil, a university professor residing in the U.S., tweeted: "Miss Iraq happily took a photo next to the queen of occupation and cruelty." Another user on Instagram wrote: "If someone is an honorable Arab, they will hate Israel. Palestine is our pride as Arabs." Another user commented: "You support peace with the enemy, peace with those who occupy land and kill innocent children." Adar Gandelsman, Miss Israel, who also shared a similar photo on her Instagram with the caption, "This is Miss Iraq, and she is great," faced fewer reactions. However, not all responses to this selfie were negative, as many praised the interesting initiative of the two for promoting peace. The spokesperson for the Israeli Prime Minister praised the act, describing it as "a great message of hope and peace in the region." The BBC reported that Sarah Idan, who grew up in Iraq and moved to the U.S. to study music, expressed pride on her Facebook page for being the first woman to represent Iraq in this competition after 45 years. An Iraqi civil activist tweeted: "A photo of an Arab or Muslim with an Israeli does not reflect agreement with Israeli foreign policy or enmity towards humanity and peace." In response to the criticism, Sarah Idan wrote on her Instagram that Miss Israel asked her to take a photo together and expressed hope for peace between the two countries. She stated: "She asked me to take a photo together, and I gladly accepted. The purpose of this photo is to express hope for global peace," and emphasized that this photo does not mean defending Israel. Sarah Idan added: "I apologize to anyone who believes this photo is offensive to the Palestinian cause. That was not my intention, and I merely aimed to emphasize peace and hope for finding a solution to the crisis."
Selfie of Miss Iraq and Miss Israel Sparks Controversy
A selfie taken by Sarah Idan, Miss Iraq, with Adar Gandelsman, Miss Israel, during the Miss Universe pageant has sparked significant controversy among Arab social media users, who criticized the act as inappropriate given Iraq's stance on Israel. While some praised the gesture as a promotion of peace, others condemned it, highlighting the complex political sentiments surrounding Israel in the Arab world.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
During the Miss Universe pageant, Miss Iraq, Sarah Idan, took a selfie with Miss Israel, Adar Gandelsman, which sparked controversy on social media due to Iraq's lack of diplomatic relations with Israel. The selfie was both criticized and praised, reflecting the divided opinions on peace initiatives in the region.
- Iraq does not have diplomatic relations with Israel, which is viewed as an occupying force by many Arabs.
- The selfie was intended to promote peace but faced backlash from those who felt it undermined the Palestinian cause.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
The relationship between Israel and Arab nations is historically fraught, with many Arab countries, including Iraq, viewing Israel as an occupier. Initiatives for peace often face significant public backlash.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
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