Lebanese Singer Elissa: I Support Peace With Any Country; Israel Being Our Enemy Is 'The Biggest Lie We Have Been Living'

Lebanese Singer Elissar Zakaria Khoury, known by her stage name Elissa, said in a November 12, 2020 interview on MTV (Lebanon) that the recent talk about demarcation of Lebanon's borders with Israel is evidence that Israel is not really Lebanon's enemy, and that there has been a conspiracy to spread this lie. She said she supported peace with any country. She also said that Lebanese politicians Dr. Samir Geagea and Saad Hariri should be held accountable for bringing Lebanese President Michel Aoun to power. In addition, Elissa said that Lebanon's leaders would all quit if they had any self-respect or if they contemplated what the people think of them.

Interviewer: "Were you surprised by the [talks] over demarcation of borders [with Israel]?"

Elissar Zakaria Khoury: "Yes, of course. For 20 years, they have been talking to us about 'the Zionist enemy' and about how they want to pray in Jerusalem and so on and so forth, and all of a sudden, they are sitting at the negotiations table... What is happening in Lebanon is not normal. Let me tell you, I am not against the demarcation of borders. I support peace with any country, regardless of the identity of that state. We want to live. We want to enjoy what life we have left. We want a good future for our children, Zaven. We should not live according to somebody's whims. [How can Israel] be an enemy one day, and the next day we mark our borders with it? No. [Israel being our enemy] is the biggest lie we have been living. I have never believed this lie, but some people have, and they have lived their lives accordingly.

Interviewer: "You are talking about a conspiracy..."

Khoury: "Of course it's a conspiracy. What else would you call it?"

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"I love Dr. Samir Geagea. Nevertheless, he and Saad Hariri made a mistake when they brought President Aoun to power, and ushered in this lousy era. They should be held accountable for this."

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Interviewer: "Michael Aoun is the president of this country. What would you like to say to him?"

Khoury: "He should quit."

Interviewer: "Just like that..."

Khoury: "Yes, but let me tell you something. I am saying my piece, but my voice and your voice will get nowhere, because we are talking to the wall, to people who have no ears. No matter what we say, they will do whatever they want. But if any of those leaders has an ounce of self-respect left, he should survey what people think of him, and according to the results, he should decide whether to stay or to quit. This way, all of them would have to quit."