"Almost the entire population of the southern village of Arnoun early this afternoon left their homes for good, saying life across from an "Israeli" post had become unbearable. Some forty families deserted the village for the nearby town of Nabatiyeh leaving behind only about 20 elderly people who refused to move. "Israel" constantly threatens and harasses them. One woman said the mayor of the village took his belongings and fled yesterday. "We live at the mercy of the "Israelis" who are positioned in the Beauforte Castle a few kilometers away from us," a villager carrying his belongings said. "Whenever the "Israelis" lose a soldier in southern Lebanon they storm our village and arrest people and take them to the Khiyam Jail." Cases of torture and maltreatment have been reported in the prison. One 14-year-old boy was snatched by "Israeli" troops from Arnoun earlier this year and taken to the jail. Suffering is systematic in Arnoun. Arnoun is a front line village in south Lebanon. But unlike other areas that border the zone "Israel" occupies, Arnoun has a different predicament. It is practically besieged and often visited by "Israeli" patrols. We had visited that village 20 days ago and the report shows the situation in Arnoun."

Report: "The last Lebanese army checkpoint is a little bit over a kilometer from the southern village of Arnoun. Arnoun is not technically inside the zone "Israel" occupies in the south but it lies just beneath the Beaufort castle, one of the "Israeli" manned outposts. Cars are not allowed to enter the village forcing residents to cross by foot. Man from village said: Our village was a paradise, this man says. But it is not heaven anymore. It is a ghost town. He was right. We crossed into the village and the tragedy was evident. Most of the homes have been abandoned and it took a while before we came across people. There were some 30,000 people here before "Israel" carved out its occupation zone. Today the village only has some 30 residents and most of them are old. Woman from village said: Most of the people have fled because of the appalling conditions here, she explained. But my husband and I do not have any other choice. We had to stay. But young men cannot stay here. The "Israelis" will take them. At times, "Israeli" occupation forces set up temporary checkpoints right here at the entrance of the village."

"They search homes, check cars and detain residents who they suspect assist the Lebanese resistance before returning to their hilltop position. "Israeli" forces constantly keep a close eye on the village. And its residents have to deal with constant harassment."

"Man in village said: "Israeli" patrols enter the village. They searched my home, this man said. They look through the drawers, the closets, everywhere. They also besiege the village. When night falls, no one is allowed to leave their homes. This family lost their five year old brother. He needed urgent medical treatment but they had to wait for morning to leave the village. And it just was too late. But life has to go on. Arnoun's residents, or to be more accurate, the remaining few, mainly rely on tobacco cultivation and olive harvests for their livelihood. The serenity of this village is deceptive. The people live in fear. And the hardships they face are all too obvious. As this woman put it: the only thing people here want is to live a normal life."