At Miss Universe contest, Miss Lebanon, Miss Israel are 'best of friends'

Agence France Presse ^ | July 21, 2006 | Paul Bustamente

[Cecily]

LOS ANGELES - Peace reigns at least at the Miss Universe 2006 contest, where beauties Miss Lebanon and Miss Israel are the "best of friends" despite the bloody fighting between the two countries back home, their companions said.

Even as Israel has bombarded Lebanon in the wake of a missile barrage by the Hezbollah militia in the country's south, the two women -- Gabrielle Bou Rached of Lebanon and Israel's Anastacia Entin -- have struck up a friendship ahead of Sunday's tough competition to see who is named the world's most beautiful woman.

"I think the perpetrators of the current Middle East crisis could learn a few lessons from Miss Lebanon and Miss Israel, who are the best of friends here," said Miss Germany Natalia Ackerman.

The contest doesn't allow much room for warring, with contestants from 86 countries this year all crammed into the same Los Angeles hotel for a month with a rigorous schedule of rehearsals for the show. Mostly in their early twenties, the women become friends mainly based on geographic nearness and shared languages.

Entin and Rached have been pulled together by the force of shared cultures, whatever is happening back home, smiling, posing for pictures together, even though Rached's presence sparked a protest by some 20 Lebanese Muslims Wednesday in front of the downtown Los Angeles hotel.

[Moose4]

even though Rached's presence sparked a protest by some 20 Lebanese Muslims Wednesday in front of the downtown Los Angeles hotel.

Why am I not surprised. Fanatic Muslims won't be happy until they have destroyed everything good and beautiful in their cultures.

}:-)4

[gidget7]

DUH!!!! you notice there is no "Miss Hezbolla"

[Krankor]

I love ya, man.

[martin_fierro]

Shoot.

I was kinda countin' on a catfight.

[CounterCounterCulture]

Obligatory "this thread is useless without pics" post ;-)

Gabrielle Bou Rached, Miss Lebanon 2006, is seen here on 07 July 2006. Peace reigns at least at the Miss Universe 2006 contest, where beauties Miss Lebanon and Miss Israel are the "best of friends" despite the bloody fighting between the two countries back home, their companions said.(AFP/HO-Miss Universe/File/Darren Decker)

[Jack2006]

She wasn't allowed in with her Rocket.

[RandallFlagg]

Bookmarking for later pics. Please keep 'em coming.

[Victor]

Absolutely gorgeous.Now, where's the Jewish gal?

[CounterCounterCulture]

In this photo released by Miss Universe, Anastacia Entin, Miss Israel 2006, poses in her swimwear Thailand swimsuit at the Wilshire Grand Hotel in Los Angeles on Tuesday, July 11, 2006. Entin and others will compete for the title of Miss Universe during the live broadcast of the 55th annual Miss Universe 2006 competition from Los Angeles on July 23. (AP Photo/Miss Universe, Darren Decker) Email Photo Print Photo

[CounterCounterCulture]

ASK and YE shall receive ;-)

[Dallas59]

We ain't at war with Lebanon...and certainly not with Ms. Lebanon.

[Victor]

Jeez, what a decision...I love them both.

[xcamel]

Yup, "Bombing Lebanon" - Ratherized news - "False but accurate".
How about a little truth:
"Bombing the muslim terrorist jew hating cockroach invading squatters and iranian overlords that have sized southern Lebanon...."

[goldstategop]

Make love not war. I don't see a catfight here. :)

(Go Israel, Go! Slap 'Em, Down Hezbullies.)

[CrawDaddyCA]

Now you should know darn well that you DO NOT post a 'hot girls' thread with out pics! ;-)

[CounterCounterCulture]

Here's another neighbor of Miss Israel...

Contestants in the 2006 Miss Universe pageant Miss Egypt, Fawzeya Mohamed, left, and Miss Israel, Anastasya Yentin, pose together as they arrive for a party in Los Angeles, Monday July 10, 2006. (AP Photo/Lucas Jackson)

[CrawDaddyCA]

Thank you. Pics should be MANDITORY on a 'hot girls' thread.

[nuconvert]

[elhombrelibre]

She's probably Christian.