PM Netanyahu: Some Christian villages in southern Lebanon asked to be annexed by Israel

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday claimed that some Christian villages in southern Lebanon had asked Israel for protection from Hezbollah, and that some had even sought annexation by Israel.

Speaking in an interview with Fox News, Netanyahu said Israel was protecting Christian communities in southern Lebanon from “Hezbollah fanatics,” though he did not identify the villages or say when such requests were made.

“Among the Christian villages in Lebanon, some have even asked to be annexed to Israel, because we protect them from Hezbollah fanatics who want to kill them.”

He continued, “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… they’d like to free Lebanon. I hope we can get more peace deals.”

Hanna Al-Amil, mayor of Rmeish, a Christian Lebanese village just two kilometers (1.2 miles) from the Israeli border, later "categorically" denied Netanyahu's claim.

The prime minister's remarks come as Israel continues to hold parts of southern Lebanon, where the Israel Defense Forces says they are operating against Hezbollah forces and working to protect local communities from the Iranian proxy.

Christian villages in majority-Shia populated southern Lebanon have frequently found themselves in the crosshairs between the IDF and Hezbollah.

Citizens of Rmeish have reportedly prevented Hezbollah from entrenching itself in the vicinity of the village, and therefore, Rmeish and a few other villages in the area were allowed not to evacuate during the fighting, unlike most other Shiite villages. But as Hezbollah activity has spread, Israeli forces have also operated in or near Christian communities.

Despite Israel's official policy of friendly relations with the southern Lebanese Christians, two incidents where IDF soldiers desecrated a church and a Jesus statue in the area have drawn widespread condemnation.

In a recorded call earlier this year, an Israeli military officer told residents of one southern Lebanese village that Israel viewed them as “friends and family” and did not want them to evacuate, but warned, "If Hezbollah elements are among you, we will strike, and you will have to leave. The responsibility is yours.”

The warning reflected the difficult position of some Christian communities in southern Lebanon, which have sought to avoid being caught between Hezbollah and IDF military operations. In at least one recent case, residents appeared to appeal directly to Israeli forces.

Last month, a group of Israeli soldiers operating in southern Lebanon discovered a personal letter left for them by local Christian residents who had evacuated the area after receiving warnings of potential IDF strikes in the area. 

In the letter, written in broken English, they thanked the IDF for removing Hezbollah from the area and appealed to them to protect their homes and let them return, saying they had children and little money.

Christians are estimated to make up between 30% and 40% of Lebanon’s population.