Israeli supermodel Bar Refaeli on Thursday canceled plans to attend a Turkish fashion festival next week, citing ill health, after pro-Palestinian groups in the country expressed anger at her inclusion.
A number of anti-Israeli groups had protested against Refaeli’s planned presence, after organizers invited her to visit the Laleli Fashion Shopping Festival in Istanbul (August 24-30) as an honored guest.
The groups called on organizers to withdraw the invitation and to invite any other model, as long as she wasn’t Israeli.
Festival directors refused to budge, and said they would increase security for Refaeli to prevent her from encountering any problems during her stay.
Quoting Turkish media reports, Maariv said the organizers, who had based much of their publicity for the event on her attendance, were disappointed at Refaeli’s move.
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