On the corner of a deserted, half-built house a few hundred metres from the "blue line", the UN's demarcation between Lebanon and Israel, a flag flutters in the breeze.

Such a sight may not seem unusual. But as the wind picks up, the flag unfurls displaying sky-blue horizontal stripes and the Star of David on a white background - an Israeli flag openly flying inside Lebanese territory five weeks after the war between Israel and Hizbollah ended. Despite gradual withdrawals, Israeli troops remain on their neighbour's side of the border, occupying narrow strips along areas of the blue line.