The captain of a Syrian Air Force transport flying over 
the Mediterranean sends out a MAYDAY message, 
"This is Syrian Air Force # 174 announcing we 
have lost one engine and want to land at any airport 
in the Middle East OTHER than Israel!" 
 
No answer. 
 
A while later he announces, "This is Syrian Air Force # 
174 again. We have now lost two engines and need to 
land at any airport in the Middle East OTHER than 
Israel!" 
 
Silence. 
 
A short while later the captain announces, "This is 
Syrian Air Force # 174. 
We are desperate. We have now lost THREE engines and 
urgently ask permission to land at any airport in the 
Middle East OTHER than Israel!" 
 
Still no answer. 
 
Finally the captain calls out, "Help! This is Syrian Air 
Force # 174. We have only one engine left and it is rapidly
failing. Unless we can land we are going to crash. We need
permission to land at ANY airport in the Middle East INCLUDING
Israel!"
 
Shortly thereafter, a voice is heard in the Syrian 
cockpit: "Shalom Syrian Air Force # 174. This is Tel 
Aviv approach control. We would like to help." 
 
"Allah be praised", says the Syrian pilot. "Please 
gives me instructions. 
 
"Do you speak Hebrew?" 
 
No? 
 
"Then Repeat after me: Yisgadal viyiskadash ..."