Benjamin Netanyahu Says Christian Villages In Southern Lebanon Asked To Be Annexed By Israel

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday that some Christian villages in southern Lebanon have requested to be annexed to Israel for protection from Hezbollah militants.

“On Sunday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed that some southern Lebanese Christian villages have asked to be annexed by Israel for protection from Hezbollah”

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Netanyahu made the claim in an interview with Fox News on Sunday’s “The Sunday Briefing,” telling host Jacqui Heinrich that “Christian villages in Lebanon, some of them have actually asked to be annexed to Israel.”

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He linked the request to Israel’s stated role in protecting Christians, saying “we protect them against the Hezbollah, Hezbollah fanatics who want to kill them.”

The remarks came as Lebanon was drawn into the wider Middle East war on March 2, when Hezbollah fired rockets at Israel in retaliation for the killing of Iran’s supreme leader in joint US-Israeli strikes.

In the same coverage, France 24 reported that Netanyahu reaffirmed that Israeli troops would remain in southern Lebanon “as long as necessary” to protect residents of the north and citizens of Israel.

France 24 quoted the mayor of the Christian village of Rmeish, Hanna al-Amil, denying Netanyahu’s claim and saying that even contemplating annexation was “absolutely out of the question.”

France 24 added that Amil said “15 Christian towns had issued a statement two days ago denying these allegations.”

France 24

In Middle East Eye’s account of Netanyahu’s remarks, the outlet said the prime minister offered no evidence that Christian villages in Lebanon had asked for Israeli annexation or protection.

Middle East Eye also reported that Netanyahu offered no evidence that Hezbollah had targeted Christian villages.

The same Middle East Eye coverage said Netanyahu’s remarks came two weeks after Itamar Ben Gvir posted “all of Lebanon must burn” following the deaths of four Israeli soldiers in occupied southern Lebanon.

Middle East Eye reported that Lebanon’s Health Ministry says Israeli attacks have killed at least 4,304 people and wounded 12,203 others since Israel began its war on the country on 2 March.

“Always see our news on Google The Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, stated on Sunday that some Christian villages in southern Lebanon have requested to be annexed to Israel for protection from Hezbollah militants”

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In the same reporting, Netanyahu said Israel would keep its military presence in southern Lebanon “as long as necessary in order to protect the residents of the north and all the citizens of Israel.”

France 24 also described a separate state ceremony speech in which Netanyahu reiterated that Israeli troops would remain for as long as necessary.

France 24 further reported that Israel’s military chief, Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir, visited troops near Beaufort Castle in southern Lebanon on Sunday and vowed the army would “continue to operate decisively to remove threats from Lebanese territory.”

L’Orient Today added that Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir swore during his visit that it “will continue to act decisively against threats coming from Lebanese territory” and was ready to move to offensive operations if a truce was violated.