Miss Lebanon and Miss Israel Selfie Photo Sparks Controversy In Miss Universe 2015
The dispute between Lebanon and Israel has spilled over to the Miss Universe beauty pageant, which will be held on Jan. 25 in Miami.
Miss Lebanon Saly Greige was severely criticized in her home country when a selfie photo of her and Miss Israel Doron Matalon was posted on social media, creating a firestorm.
Matalon uploaded the photo on her Instagram account last Jan. 11, showing her with Greige, Miss Slovenia and Miss Japan with the caption "Good morning from us! Miss Japan, Miss Slovenia, Miss Lebanon & I."
Greige said since arriving in Miami, Florida, for the beauty contest, she has avoided being photographed with Matalon.
"The truth behind the photo: Since the first day of my arrival to participate to Miss Universe, I was very cautious to avoid being in any photo or communication with Miss Israel (that tried several times to have a photo with me)," Greige posted on her Facebook account.
She faulted Matalon for the selfie "scandal."
"I was having a photo with Miss Japan, Miss Slovenia and myself; suddenly Miss Israel jumped in, took a selfie, and put it on her social media...this is what happened and I hope to have your full support in the Miss Universe contest," she explained as she appealed to her countrymen to continue supporting her.
"To all my supporters and Lebanese citizens, I would like to thank you indeed for your continuous support of Miss Lebanon at the Miss Universe contest," she added.
Matalon responded by saying that she wasn't surprised by Greige's action. "It doesn't surprise me, but it still makes me sad. Too bad you cannot put the hostility out of the game, only for three weeks of an experience of a lifetime that we can meet girls from around the world and also from the neighboring country," she wrote on her Facebook account.
Lebanon and Israel has been at odds for decades. In 2006, Lebanon and Israel engaged in a war that killed thousands of civilians.