I am going to Israel in October, but I'll be getting there via Lebanon & Syria first (with a stop in Jordan before entering Israel).
I would like to take my LP guide to Israel with me, but I fear that it will be found in my backpack when I go thru customs in Syria (or Lebanon).
Should I leave it at home, or will it be ok to take with me?
From what I have read on the forum, you should not have anything on you whilst in Syria that indicates an intention to travel to, or that you have travelled to, Israel. This means passport stamps, visas, currency, phrase books, leaflets, accommodation booking confirmations, flight details, private notes and guide books. So I would say don't bring it, at all.
I am doing the same or similar journey myself in September (Turkey-Syria-Jordan-Israel), and have purchased the LP Middle East guidebook, which I have been advised is ok to bring so long as there are no marking on the Israel pages to show that you've read them and have made notes or whatever.
If anyone could shed any light on what happens if Syrian authorities think you might be due to travel to Israel I would be appreciative.
Bringing the Israel specific guide will be a no-no. But as #1 says the Middle Eastern guide gets through without problem.
Both the above probably are good advice.
However, to be fair, I took the train from Istanbul to Aleppo and the only people they were worried about were Iraqis. I'd bought the Israel guide in Istanbul and remembered such scare stories midway on the train, but decided that throwing out of the window would make me a loon. So put at bottom of the bag and decided to rely on a winning smile if went pear shaped. Was all fine.
Didn't get impression i was particularly lucky at the border not to be searched ... It's Syria ... They are not being paid to search backpacks of travellers who want to go there lol. They don't really care at the train stops. And if I had to compare relaxed and polite border control at the Turkish border with JFK ... yeah, US customs are the worst advert for a country in the world.
On other hand, airport maybe different. Been to Beirut airport and they have 2 guys on gate checking passports twice just to see you haven't been to Israel. It's clearly not to check you are a terrorist ... as that will hardly get you barred from the country.
Anyway, didn't find the ME book sufficient frankly, but the LP individual guides fine. If you really worried buy in Tel Aviv.
Just enjoy both Tel Aviv and Damascus. Both great. But TA more so.
Probably best to be on the safe side, but for what it's worth I've been in and out of Syria several times recently by road and my stuff has never been searched.
OP: I agree with Bzenny: I've been in and out of Syria loads, via both air and land borders, and have never ever had my belongings searched (unlike the USA and Uzbekistan!) But by the same token, I'm not sure I'd risk it, either. It's not like you'd get into tons of trouble - they'd probably just refuse you entry if they decided to search your bags on entry and found an Israel LP. But I'd just pick one up in Jordan or Israel to totally be on the safe side, if I were you.
Streepfan: As mentioned above, they'd probably just refuse you entry if they decided to search your bags and found any of the items which you listed. Once you're in, there's not really anything to worry about - Syrian police aren't really very interested in what tourists do unless they're causing trouble, as per most countries.
Bucephalus: I've encountered the 'two people checking' thing in many countries, not just in the Middle East - I think the second person is usually checking that you've been stamped in correctly, rather than doing another extra 'Israel' check!
cnik.......I have been in and out of Syria by road and air. No one ever searched my bag. Some of you guys are as paranoid as the Syrians. However, if you want to save some weight, and don't want to schlep a copy, through Syria probably Lebanon and then through Jordan. After the border crossing from Jordan's Aqaba, at the bus station in Eilat is a book shop called Steimatzky, where they stock the LP guide to Israel.