Even as Israel has bombarded Lebanon, the two women - Gabrielle Bou Rached of Lebanon and Israel's Anastacia Entin - have struck up a friendship.
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 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 on Wednesday in front of the downtown Los Angeles hotel.
The protest had no effect and the organisers avoided talking about it, but some contestants said the two Middle Eastern beauties' friendship set an example for the world.
"The fact that Miss Lebanon and Miss Israel can be friends ... people can see that it sets a wonderful example," said Miss Canada, Alice Panikian.
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