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Israel-Palestine-Jordan
Israeli civilian parachutist blown into Lebanon evades capture
2005-11-23

Nothing on Jackass will ever top this.

EFL



An Israeli civilian narrowly escaped Hezbollah capture Wednesday afternoon after his hang glider was blown off course and landed some 50 meters inside Lebanese territory, near the Israel Defense Forces' Manara outpost.

In the wake of the incident, the United Nations Security Council issued an unprecedented condemnation of Hezbollah recent offensive activities and demanded the Lebanese government take control of the south of the country.

The latest incident started around 3 P.M. when parachutist Adam Wexler took to the sky near the Manara cliff and was blown by strong winds into Lebanon.

The man was spotted upon landing by three Hezbollah militants, who began moving towards him. Meanwhile, the man sprinted through a mine field in the direction of the nearby Manara outpost.

Hezbollah opened fire at IDF troops who rushed to open the gate to let the man back in to Israel. The parachutist arrived unharmed and was handed over to Kiryat Shmona police.

"The soldiers saved me," the Wexler told journalists. "If it were not for the IDF, I would now be in Lebanon and I don't know what would have happened to me."

IDF and Hezbollah forces continued to exchange fire after the incident.

The IDF denied Hezbollah claims that troops crossed the border into Lebanon after the parachutist landed. The IDF also emphasized that the parachutist was involved in "civilian activities" and had entered Lebanon inadvertently.

Hezbollah was apparently trying to capture the parachutist, who would have been used in future prisoner exchange negotiations with Israel.

Channel 1 TV news reported on Wednesday night that Wexler had ignored an IDF order not to hang glide in the border area.
Posted by:Penguin

#10  Bolton was indeed behind this.

I propose the UN be responsible for issuing Darwin Awards and this guy gets nominated.
Posted by: JAB   2005-11-23 22:54  

#9  More exiting than your parachute being pushed near powerlines. I'm looking forward to the Hezbollah hang glider swarm/danceoff on the evening news.
Posted by: ed   2005-11-23 20:43  

#8  "In the wake of the incident, the United Nations Security Council issued an unprecedented condemnation of Hezbollah recent offensive activities." I hope Bolton was behind this and he squeezes harder.
Posted by: Cyber Sarge   2005-11-23 19:39  

#7  Make sure you wave hello to the nice Hezb gunny with the RPG!
Posted by: Seafarious   2005-11-23 19:00  

#6  
"I'm confused. Was the guy riding a parachute, or flying a hang glider? Can't be both."

He was paragliding. Paragliders: part parachute, part glider! So. you see, it can be both!

Jeaper
Posted by: Jeaper Threaper4347   2005-11-23 18:53  

#5  I'm confused. Was the guy riding a parachute, or flying a hang glider? Can't be both.
Posted by: Scooter McGruder   2005-11-23 18:46  

#4  What the hell are Hezbollah doing patrolling the border anyway? Until and unless the Lebanese army takes control, the Israelis should declare a free-fire zone within 1000 metres of the border.
Posted by: Apostate   2005-11-23 17:05  

#3  Lol. A definite candidate for the Too Stupid To Live category. Jackass, indeed, heh.
Posted by: .com   2005-11-23 16:55  

#2  Next week he's going windsurfing through the Straits of Hormuz...
Posted by: Seafarious   2005-11-23 16:50  

#1  It's good that he's safe, except for the possible future damage to the gene pool.
Posted by: SLO Jim   2005-11-23 16:48  

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