Lebanese Christian Towns Deny Netanyahu's Annexation Claim

Fifteen southern Lebanese towns with Christian populations issued a joint statement on July 7 refuting Prime Minister Netanyahu's assertion that they had requested Israeli annexation. Netanyahu made the claim on Fox News two days earlier. Lebanese analysts called the remarks an attempt to exploit sectarian divisions in a country organized along confessional lines. The statement contradicts claims Netanyahu made about Israel's role as protector of Lebanese Christians amid ongoing occupation of six percent of Lebanese territory.