Lebanese President's Daughter And Advisor Claudine Aoun Roukoz: I Do Not Object Peace With Israel Once Our Disputes Are Resolved; Did France And Germany Remain Enemies After WWII?

In an October 25, 2020 interview on Al-Jadeed/New TV (Lebanon), Claudine Aoun Roukoz, Lebanese President Michel Aoun's daughter and special advisor, was asked about previous statements in which she indicated she would support peace with Israel once Lebanon's border dispute with Israel is solved (see MEMRI TV Clip No. 8318). Aoun Roukoz elaborated on her position, saying that she would support peace once the issues of border demarcation, Palestinian refugees in Lebanon, and natural resources are resolved. She said that Lebanon's conflict with Israel is not an ideological one, it is a political conflict and once it is resolved there could be peace with Israel, and gave the example of the relations between Germany and France, after World War II ended. Aoun Roukoz said while she identifies with the suffering of oppressed people, she must look out for the interests of Lebanon, and in 2020, it is the Lebanese [not the Palestinians] who are the victims. Aoun Roukoz serves as the President of the National Commission for Lebanese Women, and she is the wife of Lebanese MP Chamel Roukoz, a former Brigadier-General in the Lebanese military.

Host: "Do you support peace with Israel?"

Claudine Aoun Roukoz: "First we need to resolve all the problems. The borders...

[...]

"The position today is very clear. We have the problem of border demarcation, the problem of the Palestinian refugees, and the most important thing is our natural resources – water, oil, and gas."

[...]

Host: "Do you have any objection to Lebanon signing a peace agreement with Israel?"

Aoun Roukoz: "Why should I have an objection?"

Host: "Israel is an enemy and has plundered the land of Palestine. According to Lebanese law, it is an enemy."

Aoun Roukoz: "First of all, I am defending the interests of my country, Lebanon.

[...]

"Must we live in a state of war?"

Host: "I don't know, but... So there is no ideological conflict with Israel..."

Aoun Roukoz: "I have no ideological conflict with anybody. I told you that we live in religious and cultural pluralism. I have no conflict with anyone. My conflicts are political, not ideological."

Host: "By 'ideological,' I mean that today, Israel is an enemy country. It has waged wars against Lebanon and occupied Lebanon. It has occupied Palestine, and is still occupying the Shebaa Farms and the Golan Heights."

Aoun Roukoz: "Once all these problems are resolved, what... I don't understand. Has Germany remained France's enemy once World War II was over?

[...]

"I am defending my country, its sovereignty, and its independence. Of course I identify with persecuted peoples, but you need to ask the Palestinians about their cause."

Host: "What do they think? What do they tell you?"

Aoun Roukoz: "I don't want to talk on their behalf. Ask them. I'm sorry, but who are the victims today? In 2020, it is the Lebanese people."