#HolyLand – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu asserted on Sunday that some Christian villages in southern Lebanon had requested annexation by Israel for protection from Hezbollah, a claim that drew immediate and firm rejections from the communities involved.
In an interview with Fox News, Netanyahu stated that Israel protected Christians in the region and that certain villages had asked to join Israel. “Christian villages in Lebanon, some of them have actually asked to be annexed to Israel, because we protect them against the Hezbollah fanatics who want to kill them, and we do the same things with Christians everywhere,” he said. Netanyahu offered no names of the villages or supporting evidence.
The remarks came amid ongoing Israeli military operations in southern Lebanon. Netanyahu used the comments to highlight Israel’s purported role as a defender of Christians while reaffirming that Israeli troops would remain in the area as long as necessary.
Lebanese Christian leaders and villages responded rapidly. Hanna al-Amil, mayor of the border town of Rmeish, described the claims as “completely false” and “absolutely out of the question.” He noted that 15 Christian towns in the Marjeyoun and Bint Jbeil districts had issued a joint statement two days earlier, denying any interest in annexation or Israeli citizenship.
In their statement, the villages declared they had “no power nor the legal right” to pursue such decisions. They reaffirmed their loyalty to the Lebanese state, their national identity, and their attachment to the Lebanese flag, stressing their determination to remain on their land. Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri praised the towns’ firm stance.
Israeli strikes have affected parts of southern Lebanon, including areas with Christian populations, while Hezbollah and Israeli forces continued to clash. Critics viewed Netanyahu’s statement as an attempt to justify military presence or sow division, though no independent confirmation of any annexation requests surfaced.
Image: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamni Netanyahu as seen in his interview with Fox News on Sunday, July 5th, 2026.
