Israel and Lebanon failed to act on war crimes committed during a month of fighting between Israel and Hezbollah militants last year, according to two human rights groups.
Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch both released reports today calling for an arms embargo on Israel and Hezbollah until steps are taken to ensure that human rights violations are not repeated.
The two reports criticised Israel for dropping thousands of cluster bombs on southern Lebanon, many of which failed to explode and continue to pose a threat to civilians.
They also rebuked Hezbollah for firing at least 4,000 rockets at Israeli towns.
Nearly 1,200 people in Lebanon, mostly civilians, and 157 Israelis, mostly soldiers, died during 34 days of fighting which began this day last year.
'Neither the Israeli nor the Lebanese government has investigated these violations, nor has either held anyone accountable,' said Human Rights Watch.
An Israeli commission to investigate the war focused primarily on its military's shortcomings, while the Lebanese authorities, 'engulfed in internal tensions ... have lacked both the will and, seemingly, the capacity to investigate violations', the group said.
The Amnesty report called on Israel to provide maps with the locations of cluster bombs dropped in south Lebanon and urged Hezbollah to provide information about two Israeli soldiers it captured on 12 July last year in a cross-border raid.
Israel countered the groups' claims today. Israeli foreign ministry spokesman Mark Regev said that 'Israel is a country with the rule of law ... and a respect for human rights. When allegations are raised about soldiers acting inappropriately, they are investigated'.
