World
Iraq and Israel's beauty queens reunite after Instagram selfie forced Miss Iraq to flee her home
Fear did not stop her posting another picture with Miss Israel
June 13, 2018 12:27
Fear did not stop her posting another picture with Miss Israel
June 13, 2018 12:27Iraq’s competitor in the Miss Universe competition has shared a photo of her reunited with Miss Israel, after their Instagram selfie led to Miss Iraq having to flee her homeland with her family.
Sarah Idan was representing Iraq at the 2017 pageant in Las Vegas last November when she took the selfie with Miss Israel, Adar Gandelsman, and posted it online.
The picture sparked a backlash and Ms Idan was forced to leave Iraq for America with her family after receiving death threats.
In the caption, she had written: "Peace and Love from Miss Iraq and Miss Israel".
Peace and Love from Miss Iraq and Miss Israel ❤️❤️💕💕 #missuniverse
A post shared by Sarah Idan (Sarai) سارة عيدان (@sarahidan) on
Her message was seen by some as an endorsement of Israel and a betrayal of Palestinians. Iraq and Israel have no diplomatic relations.
In December, she told CNN: "When I posted the picture I didn't think for a second there would be blowback.
“I woke up to calls from my family and the Miss Iraq Organization going insane. The death threats I got online were so scary."
But fear did not stop her posting her latest picture that showed her in Israel, with Ms Gandelsman.
Ms Idan two posted new pictures online on Instagram, one with the caption: "Sisters reunion".
Sisters reunion 💕💕 magazine photo shoot #missiraq #missisrael اجتمعنا مجددا 💕💕 #جلسة_تصوير
A post shared by Sarah Idan (Sarai) سارة عيدان (@sarahidan) on
As part of the trip, she visited Jerusalem and ate at an Iraqi-Jewish restaurant in the Mahane Yehuda shuk.
Speaking to Israel's Channel 2 News, she said: “I don't think Iraq and Israel are enemies, I think maybe the governments are enemies with each other.
"But there's a lot of Iraqi people that don't have a problem with Israelis."
Ofir Gendelman, a spokesman for Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, wrote on Twitter: "Friendly relations between Israelis & Arabs will definitely help in ushering in a better tomorrow for all of us in the Middle East.
@adar_gandelsman Shalom/Salam from Jerusalem #middleeasternqueens شالوم/سلام من القدس أورشليم 💕💕
A post shared by Sarah Idan (Sarai) سارة عيدان (@sarahidan) on
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