Israel: Miss Universe contestants accused of "cultural appropriation"
Iris Mittenaere was elected Miss Universe on January 30.
REUTERS / Erik De Castro
Text by: RFI Follow
1 min
Israel is hosting the 70th edition of Miss Universe this Sunday evening, December 12.
The competition is organized in Eilat, a seaside town in the south of the country, on the shores of the Red Sea.
As often in the Middle East, the slightest event takes a political turn, and this miss contest is no exception.
Several controversies surround the international beauty contest.
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With our correspondent in Jerusalem,
Sami Boukhelifa
Misses from all over the world.
But before going on stage and confronting each other in Eilat, the organizers make them discover Jerusalem, then a stop in the Israeli desert and an immersion in the Arab Bedouin culture.
For the occasion, the Miss are adorned with their finery.
They are in traditional Palestinian dress.
Anger of Palestinians on social media.
They denounce "
a cultural appropriation
" and condemn a futile attempt to "
restore the image of Israel, the occupying power responsible for the worst crimes and atrocities
".
During their tour of apartheid Israel, the Miss Universe contestants wore the traditional Palestinian dress and wrapped grape leaves - a known dish in the traditional Palestinian cuisine, claiming these two practices are Israeli heritage!
pic.twitter.com/TdH1si88pw
- V PALESTINE 🇵🇸 (@ V_Palestine20) December 9, 2021
A competition denounced in South Africa
It is also to protest against these actions of the Hebrew state that Miss Greece refused to take part in this 70th edition organized in Israel.
She is eventually replaced by another beauty queen from her country.
Summoned to cancel her participation, Miss South Africa chose to ignore the injunctions of civil society and the South African government.
The country makes a point of supporting the Palestinians, denouncing what it considers to be the Israeli policy
of
"
apartheid
".
â–ş
See also: Protesters call on Miss South Africa to boycott the Miss Universe pageant in Israel
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