May 16 — The ugly situation in the Middle East has affected the beauty business. Miss Lebanon has dropped out of the Miss Universe pageant because she doesn’t want to be in the same room as Miss Israel, says a pageant insider.

‘For years, there have been problems regarding the political situation and Miss Lebanons and Miss Israels. . . . they can’t be photographed together or they might be exiled.’

— MARY HILLIARD MCMILLAN, Miss Universe spokeswoman

“MISS LEBANON 2002, Christina Sawaya, has informed pageant officials that she will not compete,” says the source. “She does not want to participate in a competition along with Miss Israel.”

Meanwhile, Miss Israel, Yamit Har-Noy, is having issues of her own. The source says the Middle Eastern beauty isn’t wearing her sash in public for security reasons. The pageant will be held in San Juan on May 29 and will be broadcast on CBS.

A spokeswoman for the event confirms the story. “For years, there have been problems regarding the political situation and Miss Lebanons and Miss Israels,” spokeswoman Mary Hilliard McMillan tells The Scoop. “For example, they can’t be photographed together or they might be exiled when they return to their own countries. This year, there is such turmoil, that Miss Lebanon will not be joining us.”

The spokeswoman says Miss Israel isn’t wearing her sash at the suggestion of pageant security.

“It’s a red flag,” she says. “She has such an interesting background. . . . She’s finishing up her second year of military service, and there’s a lot of interest in her. We have to make sure that she’s safe and comfortable so she can do what she’s here to do.”

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There are as well unconfirmed reports that noted international peace negotiator Phil W has generously offered to host a Camp David style peace summit, inviting all of the feuding Miss Universe participants, to seek a final settlement while cloistered in a secluded setting for an intensive two week negotiating period, a la Clinton, Barak, Arafat in July 2000.

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