By Gloria Ogbonna
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has sparked controversy after claiming that several Christian villages in southern Lebanon asked to be annexed by Israel in exchange for protection from the Iran-backed terrorist group Hezbollah. The remarks were quickly rejected by Lebanese officials and community leaders, who reaffirmed their loyalty to Lebanon and denied seeking Israeli intervention.
Speaking during an interview with Fox News on Sunday, Netanyahu said Israel has become a source of protection for several minority communities living in Lebanon, particularly those threatened by Hezbollah.
“Among the Christian villages in Lebanon, some have even asked to be annexed to Israel, because we protect them from the fanatics of Hezbollah who want to kill them. And we do the same thing with Christians everywhere,” Netanyahu said.
The Israeli leader went on to claim that Christians were not the only communities seeking Israel’s assistance.
“It’s not only the Christians in Lebanon who asked for our protection. It’s the Druze, it’s Muslims, the Sunni Muslims and quite a few of the Shiite Muslims, too,” he added.
However, Netanyahu did not identify which villages had allegedly made such requests, prompting swift denials from Lebanese officials and residents.
Among the first to respond was Hanna al-Amil, the mayor of the predominantly Christian border town of Rmeish, who dismissed the Israeli prime minister’s assertion as completely false.
Speaking with Lebanese public television, al-Amil said the suggestion that his village wanted to become part of Israel was “absolutely out of the question.”
He noted that a coalition of Christian communities had already addressed similar rumors days earlier.
“Fifteen Christian towns had issued a statement two days ago denying these allegations,” he said.
The statement, released on Friday by 13 Christian-majority villages located along Lebanon’s southern border, reaffirmed the communities’ commitment to the Lebanese state amid growing speculation that some residents had sought Israeli protection.
In the joint declaration, the villages emphasized that they possessed neither the legal authority nor the desire to request protection from a foreign government.
The signatories reaffirmed their loyalty to Lebanon, declaring their commitment to the country’s sovereignty, national identity, and flag despite the hardships they have endured during the conflict.
Speaking to Arab News on Monday, al-Amil said the statement should put the issue to rest.
“The border villages have remained committed to the Lebanese state and its legitimacy throughout the war without wavering,” he said.
“Their residents take pride in their national identity and regard Lebanon as their final and permanent homeland, with no alternative on offer.”
He further accused those spreading the reports of attempting to exploit the suffering of border communities for political purposes.
“They reject any attempt to twist their position or exploit their suffering in the service of agendas that have nothing to do with them,” al-Amil said.
“The fabricated reports serve only one purpose: to damage the reputation of the border communities and sow confusion.”
Although residents rejected Netanyahu’s annexation claims, many acknowledged their frustration with Hezbollah’s presence in southern Lebanon and the Lebanese government’s inability to shield civilians from the devastating conflict.
Rmeish civil activist Gaby al-Hajj said residents have endured years of instability because the Lebanese government has failed to fully assert control over southern Lebanon.
“For three years now, we have been suffering because the Lebanese state failed to extend its sovereignty over its own land,” al-Hajj said, referring to the ongoing tensions between Hezbollah and Israel that intensified during the Gaza war.
“That left us at the mercy of illegal weapons, and we are paying for it now.”
He added that despite living under constant danger, residents have refused to abandon their communities.
“The Israelis have us under siege—yet we refused to leave our villages. We have not turned our backs on Lebanon and we will not. We have held on, regardless of the cost.”
Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri also responded to Netanyahu’s remarks, praising the border communities for publicly reaffirming their allegiance to Lebanon.
Berri urged citizens to reject what he described as Israeli political misinformation designed to create divisions among Lebanon’s border populations.
He also called on the Lebanese government and international partners to address what he described as the continued destruction of villages in southern Lebanon.
The latest dispute comes amid ongoing military operations by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) against Hezbollah positions in southern Lebanon.
Before launching ground operations, Israel issued evacuation orders for several border communities, arguing that Hezbollah fighters had embedded themselves inside civilian areas and that military action was necessary to eliminate the group’s infrastructure.
Despite those warnings, many residents chose to remain in their homes.
Throughout the campaign, the IDF has demolished buildings and homes it says were being used by Hezbollah to store weapons, hide fighters, or launch attacks against Israel.
Residents in the Marjeyoun district of Lebanon’s Nabatieh province reported receiving text messages from the Israeli military on Monday warning local authorities not to allow displaced residents to return to certain areas while operations continue.
Israeli forces also reportedly carried out drone strikes targeting suspected Hezbollah operatives attempting to enter restricted zones.
The IDF has periodically warned mayors of Christian villages not to admit “strangers” whom Israel believes could be Hezbollah fighters attempting to blend into civilian populations.
Meanwhile, the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) says thousands of displaced civilians have begun returning to their communities where security conditions permit.
UNIFIL spokeswoman Kandice Ardiel said peacekeepers are helping restore access to damaged areas by clearing roads, removing unexploded ordnance, and assisting municipalities in repairing critical infrastructure such as electricity and water systems.
“We’re not able to offer support in areas where the situation remains volatile, but we are continuing to remove rubble and unexploded ordnance from roads to allow passage, while supporting municipalities and repairing essential infrastructure such as water and electricity,” Ardiel said.
“The sooner people can return home, the better for long-term stability,” she added.
According to Lebanon’s Health Ministry, more than one million people—roughly one-fifth of the country’s population—have been displaced since Hezbollah launched attacks against Israel on March 2, triggering an expanded conflict along the border.
Lebanese Social Affairs Minister Haneen El Sayed said approximately 400,000 displaced residents have since returned home, although hundreds of thousands remain unable to do so because of continuing military operations.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz indicated last week that Israel has no immediate plans to withdraw from the security zones established during the conflict.
“The Israeli army will remain in the security zones in Lebanon, Syria and Gaza until further notice to protect our residents and communities from jihadist elements,” Katz said.
As fighting continues and diplomatic tensions remain high, Netanyahu’s comments have added another layer of controversy to an already volatile situation, with Lebanese leaders firmly rejecting any suggestion that border communities are seeking annexation while continuing to voice frustration over the ongoing violence and humanitarian crisis.
Source Breitbart
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