@doronmatalon, Instagram
By Eliyahu Federman - January 19, 2015
Originally appeared here in USA Today
Even the beauty of the Miss Universe pageant can't overcome the irrational and one-sided hatred of Israel. This weekend in South Florida, the Miss Israel contestant, Doron Matalon, Instagrammed a friendly selfie she snapped with Miss Lebanon, Saly Greige, and several other contestants.
This caused an uproar in Lebanon with many calling to strip Greige's beauty queen title. The Lebanese government has even launched an official investigation. And the threat is sadly very real. In 1993, Miss Lebanon, Ghada al-Turk, was stripped of her title for taking a photo smiling with her Israeli contender.
Contrast that with Miss Israel proudly displaying the picture, receiving an outpouring of support from Israelis who praised the unity a photo like that could represent, and her express wish that any "hostility" be temporarily forgotten so girls from around the world can meet in peace and unity. Read More