Lebanese in Israel near border dream of returning after decades

In Israel, near the border with Lebanon, Lebanese people who have lived there for 26 years still dream of returning. Rimon, who lives a few kilometers from the border he crossed nearly three decades ago, says he believes this is the last war in the Middle East and that he will be the first to cross the border when it is possible. For security reasons, he does not want to give his last name because his family remains in Lebanon.

Rimon was part of the South Lebanese Army, which was allied with Israel, and fled to Israel in 2000 when Israel withdrew from Lebanon, following the growth of Iran-backed Hezbollah, whose military wing is designated as a terrorist group by the EU. Since then, it has been forbidden for both Israelis and Lebanese to travel to each other's country. Rimon states that their bodies are Israeli, but their heads are in Lebanon.