South Lebanon: Denial of Netanyahu's claims to request the integration of Christian villages into Israeltranslated

The mayor of the Christian city of Rmais in Lebanon, Hana al-Amil, categorically denied claims by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that "some Christian towns in southern Lebanon asked to join Israel to protect themselves from Hezbollah fighters." Al-Amil stressed that this claim "is completely baseless" and that none of the southern towns requested such a thing.

The city of Rmaish (also known as Rmeish or Rmaish / Rmeich) is a city and municipality in southern Lebanon, just 1-2 kilometers from the border with Israel. The settlement is known for the large majority of Maronite Christians.

In a statement to the Information Ministry's "Factcheck – Lebanon" team, al-Amil underlined that the idea itself "is absolutely unthinkable". He also recalled that "15 Christian towns had issued a statement two days ago denying these allegations", stressing that these towns "are not parties to any confrontation, but are the heart of Lebanon, alive with patriotism, attachment to the land and the Lebanese identity".

The mayor expressed his "surprise at the...