Miss Israel and Miss Iraq's selfie together sparks controversy

Event or no event, nowadays, taking selfies is considered a norm... but not if you're Miss Iraq and Miss Isreal.

Miss Iraq Sarah Eedan, posted a selfie with fellow contestant Miss Israel Adar Gandelsman, during the Miss Universe beauty pageant without realising the chaos it would create on social media.

Gandelsman also shared a similar photo on her Instagram handle calling Miss Iraq "amazing". Her post was liked over 4,000 times.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BbdMEKbg2HH/?taken-by=adar_gandelsman

Eedan took to Facebook to express how honoured she was to be the first Iraqi woman in 40 years to be representing her country in the competition.

Given there are no diplomatic relations between Israel and Iraq, it was pointed out by some, including YouTuber Sabrina Bennoui, posting a photo of the two of them together was "not to everyone's taste," reported BBC.

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Some in the Arab world who accuse Israel of abuses reacted angrily. Asaad Abukhalil, a professor based in the US, tweeted: "The beauty queen of Iraq is happily posing with the beauty queen of occupation and brutality."

In response to the criticism, Ms Eedan issued a statement on Instagram, saying Miss Israel had approached her at a photo shoot and expressed her hope for peace between their two peoples.

"She asked if I would like to take a picture together. I told her I would be glad to help spread the message. The aim of the photo was an expression of hope for world peace."

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She went on to say the photo did not show support for Israel, "I would like to apologise to anyone who considered the photo to be offensive to the Palestinian cause as this was not the aim behind the post, it was merely a call to peace and hope for a solution to the crisis."

However, in Israel, the Prime Minster's spokesperson, Ofir Gendelman praised the photo, calling it a "great message of hope for the region".

The Times of Israel described the post as "an unusual display of coexistence emanating from a divided Middle East," and Srugim News asked if Miss Iraq's crown would be taken away.

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