With the Lebanese flag in the background, a municipality official in Shebaa recieves documents from the owners of land in the Israeli-occupied Shebaa farms, to prepare a file to be handed to the United Nations, in the southern Lebanese village on the foothills of Mount Hermon, near the border with Israel, 22 August 2006. The Sunni Lebanese village of Shebaa lies close but not in the contested Shebaa Farms area, occupied by Israel since 1967 Photo by: AFP PHOTO/OUSSAMA AYOUB

In March 2008, Lebanese geographer Issam Khalifeh published a book replete with documents that he said proved the Farms were Lebanese, including a 1946 deal in which Damascus recognised Lebanon's sovereignty over the territory. A Lebanese source close to the issue told AFP that minutes from the meetings held between Lebanese and Syrian officials in 1946 have been translated and sent to the United Nations and the superpowers. Attached to the report was a map with 48 border markers but Syria has refused to let this paperwork be sent to the United Nations, a crucial step in recognition of an international border, Khalifeh told AFP.

"Syria wants to use the Shebaa Farms as a pawn in negotiations to recover the Golan Heights," Hammudi said. And last week, newly elected Lebanese President Michel Sleiman also spoke of "new documents which proved the Lebanese ownership of the Shebaa Farms." Confusion over the borders dates back to 1923 when Britain and France, who held League of Nations mandates over the territories now comprising Israel, Lebanon and Syria failed to clearly outline their borders.

"I would really love to go there," said Ali Nabaa, an electrician in his 30s. "If there was a withdrawal (by Israel) we would go back straightaway, even if there were mines." He added : "Israel has probably transformed the countryside, which will pose some problems because even if the people have old documents, their farms were never officially registered." Farmer Kassem Kaadan, 71, adores his little orchard in Shebaa but it pales into insignificance compared with the two hectares (five acres) of land in the Farms that he inherited from his father. "We planted olives, plums, almonds, blackberries and corn. It is a very rich soil," Kaadan said.

Lebanon has accused Israel of refusing to return the Farms in order to benefit from the region's bountiful natural resources, particularly the water which is a scarce commodity. According to officials, there are 23 natural water sources in the Farms. The area which rises to 2,000-metre (6,600-foot) peaks also holds strategic and military importance, Khalifeh said, adding that the Israelis have also set up a ski lift and operate hotels in the Farms. "The sophisticated Mount Hebron radar station (at 2,814 metres/9,286 feet) is of major importance to Israel because from there it can monitor events from Gaza as far as Alexandretta (in Turkey)," the geographer said. Despite the problem remaining unresolved for decades, Hammudi has new optimism that a solution will be found. "We have much hope. Some people even think that a withdrawal could take place this summer."