Israel refused to return the farms to Lebanon in 2000, claiming the land was Syrian and therefore would not be given up except as part of a peace agreement with Damascus.

However, Israel Radio said an unnamed official in Jerusalem was privy to information from a U.N. cartographer who claims the long-disputed land is Lebanese, the Jerusalem Post reported Wednesday.

The unnamed source said Israel has refused to give control of the land to the United Nations until the situation is resolved.

Syria has reportedly agreed that the territory is Lebanese, the newspaper said.

Israeli officials reportedly oppose any U.N. moves to make a ruling on the ownership of the Sheba Farms due to fears that a ruling in Lebanon's favor would render Israel's 2000 pullout from Lebanon incomplete and allow Hezbollah to use the land as justification for renewed military confrontations.