8.2.3 Setting the direction of embedded text
http://www.w3.org/TR/html401/struct/dirlang.html#h-8.2.3 

describes the use of the 'dir'-attribute on inline elements, and gives a 
nice (and simple) example.

Let me give another example:

<p>English1 <span dir="rtl">&#1506;&#1489;&#1512;&#1497;&#1514;2</span>. 
<span dir="rtl">&#1506;&#1489;&#1512;&#1497;&#1514;3</span> Englisch4.</p>

In plain text
English1 Hebrew2. Hebrew3 English4.

Which some browsers (Mozilla familiy, IE) display

[1] English1 3werbeH .2werbeH English4.

and Konqueror 3.5.5 displays

[2] English1 2werbeH. 3werbeH English4.

Which one is compliant to the W3C Specification?

Or does the specification need corrections,
e.g. 'You need &lrm; in such a case'?

Helmut Wollmersdorfer