Israeli, Palestinian horses compete

JERUSALEM, July 29 (UPI) -- Eighty Israeli and Palestinian breeders will show off their purebred Arabian horses at a West Bank equine beauty pageant Friday, the organizer said.

Israeli Jews and Arabs from throughout Israel will compete against Palestinian breeders from the West Bank at the Khalil A-Rahman

show, horse breeder and show organizer Obeida Muhtaseb said in an interview with UPI Wednesday.

"Forty Israelis and 40 Palestinians have registered their horses for the show, which will be held in the football field of a local school in the town of Halhoul outside Hebron," he said in a telephone interview.

Mares, stallions, colts and fillies will be judged for beauty, Muhtaseb said. First prizes of $1,500 will be awarded to the winners of the fully grown male and female categories, and $1,000 will be given to owners of the winning colt and filly, he said.

It is the fourth time the show will be held in the Hebron district, Muhtaseb said, adding in 2003 it was held in Jericho because of the violent situation in the West Bank.

Local dignitaries will attend the show, he said, but was unable to confirm whether any senior Palestinian Authority officials will also be on hand.