For the second time in six months, Miss Universe Iraq 2017 and Iraq’s representative at the Miss Universe 2017 pageant, Sarah Idan, ignites controversy for posting an Instagram update with Miss Israel 2017, Adar Gandelsman. The caption reads: "Shalom/Salam from Jerusalem.”
Idan, whose family had to run from Baghdad last year after posting the images with her Israeli counterpart, has raised controversy. She is currently on a visit to Israel reuniting with her former competitor, at the same time as being attacked by Iraqi's and Arabs, and being hailed as a hero in Israel.
Later on the same day, Idan posted an image for her while eating at an Iraqi Jewish Restaurant that serves Bamya!
Idan was praised by the Israeli officials and media as a hero. The Israeli Prime Minister’s spokesperson tweeted welcoming her in Israel in both languages Arabic and English.
The 26-year-old Iraqi-born beauty model lives in the US. She is visiting Israel upon the invitation of the American Jewish Committee.
"I don't think Iraq and Israel are enemies, I think maybe the governments are enemies with each other," Idan said in an interview aired on Israel’s Channel 2 News. "With the people - there's a lot of Iraqi people that don't have a problem with Israelis with the Jewish people."
On her earlier posts that led her to flee Iraq with her family, she said: “I did not think it would blow up like this when I took this picture.” She added: “I lived for many years in the US, I have many friends who are Jewish or Israeli, I don’t think about people like that.”
Her posts sparked anger among Arabs and Iraqis who tweeted attacking her and refusing what Israelis called that she “represents Iraq”.
Translation: “Friendly relations? I really don’t understand how you don’t have any sense! You actually imagine that we [Arabs] and you might have “friendly relations”?”
Translation: “Who said she represents Iraq? She only represents herself and she is not a representative for Iraq. She is only the representative of herself.”
Others called the Iraqi government to withdraw Idan’s nationality and Iraqi passport.
Translation: “Miss Iraq Sarah Idan proud of visiting Israel. We demand the Iraqi government to withdraw her nationality and passport.”
