Miss Lebanon says Miss Israel photobombed her controversial Miss Universe selfie

MIAMI, Jan. 18 (UPI) -- Miss Israel's Doron Matalon posted an Instagram photo of herself with Miss Lebanon's Saly Greige, as well as Miss Slovenia and Miss Japan, in the lead up to Wednesday's Miss Universe pageant in Miami.

But the photo prompted swift criticism from Lebanese commentators and social media users. Lebanon is still at war with Israel, and its citizens are forbidden from socializing with Israelis.

Greige defended herself in a statement posted Saturday to her Facebook page, saying that she took pains to "avoid" Miss Israel during the pageant and attributed the pic to a photobomb.

Since the first day of my arrival to participate to Miss Universe, I was very cautious to avoid being in any photo or communication with Miss Israel (that tried several times to have a photo with me) ... I was having a photo with Miss Japan, Miss Slovenia and myself; suddenly Miss Israel jumped in, took a selfie, and put it on her social media...this is what happened and I hope to have your full support in the Miss Universe contest.

Matalon responded to the outcry with another post to her Instagram feed, writing that the controversy "doesn't surprise" her.

"But it still makes me sad," she said. "Too bad you can not put the hostility out of the game, only for three weeks of an experience of a lifetime that we can meet girls from around the world and also from the neighboring country."