Syria (Arabic: سوريا), officially the Syrian Arab Republic (Arabic: الجمهورية العربية السورية), is a country in the Middle East. It borders Lebanon to the west, Israel to the southwest, Jordan to the south, Iraq to the east, and Turkey to the north. Israel once occupied the Golan Heights in the southwest of the country; a dispute with Turkey over the Hatay Province now seems to have subsided. Historically, Syria has often been taken to include the territories of Lebanon, Israel and the Palestinian Territories, and parts of Jordan, but excluding the Jazira region in the north-east of the modern Syrian state. In this historic sense, the region is also known as Greater Syria or by the Arabic name Bilad al-Sham.

Name

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The name Syria comes from the ancient Greek name for the land of Aram at the eastern end of the Mediterranean Sea between Egypt and Arabia to the south and Cilicia to the north, stretching inland to include Mesopotamia, and having an uncertain border to the northeast that Pliny the Elder describes as including from west to east Commagene, Sophene, and Adiabene, "formerly known as Assyria" (N.H. 5.66). By Pliny's time, however, this larger Syria had been divided into a number of provinces under the Roman Empire (but politically independent from each other): Judaea (or "Judea" and later renamed Palestine in AD 135—the region corresponding to the modern states of Israel and Jordan and the Palestinian territories) in the extreme southwest, Phoenicia corresponding to Lebanon, with Damascena to the inland side of Phoenicia, Coele-Syria (or "Hollow Syria") south of the Eleutheris river, and Mesopotamia.
Syrian people, however, call their country "Souria" or "Sooria." This name is a variation of "syria," and is used in Arabic as well.

History

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Ynet: Turkey ready to further Syria-Israel dialogue http://bit.ly/gBp09 #israel
IsraelNewswire (Israel News Network) Fri, 06 Nov 2009 23:03:23 -0000
Ynet: Turkey ready to further Syria-Israel dialogue http://bit.ly/gBp09 #israel
Turkey ready to further Syria-Israel dialogue http://bit.ly/gBp09
fromisrael (Israeli) Fri, 06 Nov 2009 23:03:21 -0000
Turkey ready to further Syria-Israel dialogue http://bit.ly/gBp09
From Ynet Turkey ready to further Syria-Israel dialogue: During joint press conference with French counterpart in Par... http://bit.ly/gBp09
pa5fn (Hans Spee) Fri, 06 Nov 2009 23:03:21 -0000
From Ynet Turkey ready to further Syria-Israel dialogue: During joint press conference with French counterpart in Par... http://bit.ly/gBp09
.@JIDF Syria Claims the UN is 'Pro-#Israel'? http://j.mp/4DuPf1 http://j.mp/11O4cB
jnewsreader (JewPI News) Fri, 06 Nov 2009 23:03:06 -0000
.@JIDF Syria Claims the UN is 'Pro-#Israel'? http://j.mp/4DuPf1 http://j.mp/11O4cB
Turkey sends ten ministers to Syria for strategic talks - Jerusalem Post
travel_1 (Travel) Fri, 06 Nov 2009 23:03:01 -0000
Turkey sends ten ministers to Syria for strategic talks - Jerusalem Post
faves: RT @JIDF: Wha wha whaaaat? Syria Claims the UN is "Pro-Israel"? www.thejidf...: RT @JIDF: Wha wha whaaaat? Sy... http://ad.vu/mvaz
freedom4USA (freedom fighter mom) Fri, 06 Nov 2009 22:54:42 -0000
faves: RT @JIDF: Wha wha whaaaat? Syria Claims the UN is "Pro-Israel"? www.thejidf...: RT @JIDF: Wha wha whaaaat? Sy... http://ad.vu/mvaz

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