Word: syria
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Nesher was a 23-year-old rookie in the Israeli secret service when he was captured May 1,1984 by Syrian forces, who occupied parts of Lebanon at the time. Israeli and Syrian forces were facing off over the Bekaa region - the area near Syria that Israel attacked earlier this week, including bombings on the town of Baalbek. There were fears that Nesher's capture would touch off a large-scale confrontation. He was brought to Damascus where he says he underwent two months of interrogation and torture. He was eventually released as a part of an exchange for more...
...Instead I volunteered my services. I thought that if I had survived my capture, I could survive anything. My experience in Syria made me a tougher man. I became a doctor in the Israeli army, and am now chief commander of the medical forces. I go to catastrophes around the world. I helped after the Kenya bombings in 1998, the earthquakes in Turkey and Greece in 1999 and I spent three months in Mombasa. I wouldn't serve if it weren't in the search and rescue. We don't carry guns...
...many years, I kept in touch with one of my two fellow captives. But had no contact with the other one. Two or three years ago, I visited him in the desert where he lives. He criticized me for speaking out about my experiences in Syria. My perspective is that people need the support. They know that there's more than misery. A capture doesn't mean the end of life...
...Even with extensive modification, of course, the Lebanese army is unlikely to be a match for its more powerful neighbors, Israel and Syria. "We are a small country and we have to rely on international agreements to protect ourselves," said Gen. Ismail. But international treaties and allies have failed Lebanon in the past. And with the international community still refraining from imposing an immediate cease-fire, many Lebanese continue to look to Hizballah as their only defense against the Israeli invader...
...Assad] is very smart. Syria is not ready for war," says Syrian journalist Sami Moubayed. "But if the country is attacked, he will have no choice." Given their current limitations, Syria and Israel would certainly make for reluctant combatants - in fact, Syria is still angling to be part of any permanent Lebanese cease-fire solution. But neither of those facts would necessarily be enough to keep them from the battlefield, if there are a few more faceoffs like the one this past weekend. Experts say the odds are still against an armed clash between the two - but they aren...