In a graveyard in Tel Aviv, a mother weeps as her soldier son is lowered into his grave. Like so many others he was killed in a Hizbollah attack. For the Jewish State, the defence of the so-called 'security zone' in south Lebanon has been its Vietnam, a thoroughly unpalatable battle in tune with military strategy but not public sentiment. "We no longer want to send our sons off to die in a meaningless war," is the word from typical families. In this report we take a rare look inside the security zone, assessing the possible outcomes should Israel pull out of Lebanon before reaching agreement with Syria over the Golan Heights. A premature withdrawal from Lebanon could well induce a frustrated Syria to crank-up the violence of Hizbollah.

Produced by ABC Australia