Officials of the Islamist movement Hamas in the Gaza Strip, condemned on Friday the decision by the West Bank's authorities to hold a Miss Palestine beauty pageant.
The event is scheduled to take place on December 26 in the West Bank, controlled by the Fatah, the main political rival of Hamas.
"The pageant shows moral degradation in the West Bank," the Ministry of Women's Affairs said in a statement. "We are set to bring to justice all who damage the reputation of our people."
The goal of the contest is show a different, non-political face of the region.
There will be 58 young women participating in the region's first pageant, including 26 Arab-Israelis and 32 beauties from the West Bank. There are no contestants from the isolated Gaza Strip.
The winner of the Miss Palestine pageant, who will be chosen by a jury that includes representatives from the Information Ministry and the Culture Ministry, will receive a new car, a 10-day trip to Turkey, and $2,700 in cash.
The only difference in the beauty pageant is that the Palestinians will not participate in a swimsuit contest due to cultural differences.
GAZA, December 11 (RIA Novosti)
