Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has claimed that some Christian villages in southern Lebanon want to join Israel, so that they can get protection from Hezbollah attacks. However, the villages being mentioned have completely rejected this claim. Speaking on Fox News on Sunday, Netanyahu said that some Christian villages in southern Lebanon have expressed their desire to join Israel.
Netanyahu said that Israel protects these villages from Hezbollah fundamentalists and also protects Christians in other parts of the world. However, he did not reveal the name of any village. In response, Christian villages in the Marjeune area of southern Lebanon issued a joint statement. He said that they neither have the right to join any other country nor the legal power to take such a decision. The villages said they are completely loyal to their land, their national identity and the Lebanese flag.
Lebanon’s occupation of border areas
After the death of Iran’s supreme leader in a joint attack by America and Israel, Hezbollah retaliated by firing rockets at Israel. After this, Israel carried out large-scale air strikes in southern Lebanon and started a ground campaign. At present the Israeli army is occupying many areas along the border.
Many Christian villages in southern Lebanon also suffered shelling, air strikes, displacement, and damage to infrastructure during the war. Orders were given by Israel to evacuate the village, but many people decided to stay there for the safety of their homes, churches and fields. However, some villages were completely evacuated. During the war, the Israeli army called the mayors and local officials of many Christian-dominated villages and warned them not to allow any strangers, including Hezbollah fighters, into the villages.
Army will not withdraw from southern Lebanon: Netanyahu
At a government event on Sunday, Netanyahu said that the Israeli army will remain deployed in southern Lebanon until needed to protect northern Israel and the country’s citizens. Despite the US-brokered agreement between Israel and Lebanon, clashes between the Israeli army and Hezbollah are still continuing.
In an interview with Fox News, Netanyahu also talked about differences with US President Donald Trump. He said that the relations between the two countries are strong and in 99% of the cases both have the same opinion. Sometimes there are differences, but they are resolved through dialogue. This statement has come at a time when Trump had recently said that Netanyahu knows who is the boss. In recent days, Trump has also criticized Netanyahu on issues related to Lebanon and Iran and said that he may come to Washington soon.
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