Netanyahu says some Lebanese Christian villages ‘asked to be annexed’ by Israel
Lebanon was drawn into a broader Middle East war on March 2 when Hezbollah fired rockets at Israel in retaliation for the killing of Iran’s religious leader in joint US-Israeli attacks.
Israel responded with massive airstrikes and a ground assault on southern Lebanon, where its troops now occupy a large area near the border.
“Some of the Christian villages in Lebanon have actually requested to be annexed to Israel because we are defending them against Hezbollah, against Hezbollah fanatics who want to kill them, and we are doing the same things to Christians all over the world,” Netanyahu told Fox News’ The Sunday Briefing.
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Since the start of the war, some Christian villages in southern Lebanon have suffered Israeli bombardment, air strikes, displacement and infrastructure damage.
Despite Israeli evacuation orders, most remained in the settlement; While residents chose to stay to protect their homes, churches and farmland, some villages were partially or completely evacuated. During the war, the Israeli military warned many Christian-majority villages by telephone to mayors and local officials not to allow “outsiders” in, referring to Hezbollah fighters.
In a separate speech at the state ceremony on Sunday, Netanyahu reiterated that the Israeli army would maintain its presence in southern Lebanon “as long as necessary to protect the inhabitants of the north and all Israeli citizens.”
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Meanwhile, Israel’s chief of staff, Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir, visited troops stationed near Fort Beaufort in southern Lebanon on Sunday and vowed that the army “will continue to work determinedly to eliminate threats from Lebanese territory.”
Israeli forces continue to clash with Hezbollah fighters despite a US-brokered agreement between Israel and Lebanon that aims to pave the way for a permanent end to hostilities.
In an interview with Fox News, Netanyahu also touched on reported disagreements with US President Donald Trump over the agreement that stopped the war with Iran.
“Let me say that we have an excellent relationship, as I said, between allies,” Netanyahu said.
“Ninety-nine percent of the time we agree, but in any family, in any close friendship, sometimes there are differences of opinion, and we discuss them openly,” Netanyahu said.
“I can tell you with a free spirit that we usually figure these things out, too.”
Netanyahu’s remarks came a day after Trump told news outlet Axios that Netanyahu “knows who the boss is.”
In recent weeks, Trump has repeatedly criticized the Israeli prime minister during negotiations over the Iran deal, accusing him of ungratefulness and even calling him “crazy” for Israel’s escalation of tensions in Lebanon.
Trump added in an interview with Axios that Netanyahu is expected to visit Washington in the coming days.
