Maryam Eliaghi, a 67-year-old resident of West Zoutar, Lebanon, points to the bitter reality of life in this occupied area as she observes Israeli military vehicles near her home. She says, “We always hear their sounds, but we are not afraid from here.” This statement comes as Israeli soldiers have withdrawn from West Zoutar since July, but the residents of this village still face serious challenges and fear of military attacks.
Challenges of Life Under Occupation
Residents of West Zoutar refer to the failure of the "Experimental Zone" program, which was designed to reduce tensions and improve security in southern Lebanon. While this program aims to hand over Hezbollah's weapons as part of an agreement, local residents report that no tangible progress has been seen in this regard.
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Israeli military forces continue to identify potential threats by controlling the airspace and using drones. The villagers also suffer from difficulties accessing basic services such as electricity and drinking water, which negatively impacts their daily lives.
Disappointing Promises and Uncertain Future
Abid Azaldin, the mayor of West Zoutar, has pointed to the failure of the "Experimental Zone" program, stating, “This program has not been successful, as public services like electricity and water are still unavailable.” Despite some residents returning to their homes, most have faced ruins that have been completely destroyed.
More than 70 families have returned to the village, but their living conditions remain difficult. Some residents hope that with government assistance, such as the provision of prefabricated houses, the situation will improve, but many of these houses remain empty and infrastructure problems persist.
As farmers await the harvest of their olives, some have requested permits from a coordination mechanism led by the United States to access their lands located near Israeli military positions. These requests have faced criticism and ridicule from some residents who consider the process unreasonable.
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