Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday that Israel cares about its friends, especially Christians in the Middle East, and is protecting Christian villages in Lebanon from Hezbollah. He added that some Christian villages had asked to join Israel because of this protection, according to his remarks reported by Israeli media.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivered remarks Sunday evening framing Israel's military posture in southern Lebanon as a protective force for the country's Christian minority, asserting that Israel shields Christian villages from Hezbollah. Netanyahu said that some Christian villages have even requested annexation to Israel because of this protection. The statement echoes a recurring theme in Netanyahu's recent public addresses: in a June 10 video address to the Lebanese people, he said Israel sees them as allies and Hezbollah as the enemy, and earlier this month Christian leaders in southern Lebanon reportedly asked Israel to annex their villages — a request the government reportedly declined. Netanyahu's latest remarks come amid an ongoing IDF presence in areas of southern Lebanon and continued diplomatic discussions among Israel, Lebanon, and the Trump administration over the northern border's future.
2 developments
- ConfirmedChristian leaders in southern Lebanon request annexation to Israel
- DevelopingNetanyahu: Israel not in permanent war, four peace deals with Trump, Druze and Muslims seek protection
- DevelopingNetanyahu: 'We maintain freedom of action to protect northern residents'
- StrongNetanyahu at Route 60 dedication: 'We face challenges requiring composure, resolve, and care for US ties'
Source and signal
A single-sourced dispatch is never rated Confirmed or Strong. Its Signal strengthens only when a second, independent source corroborates it.
- Internal intake