Mideast Peace Talks Will Not Derail: John Kerry

　　U.S Secretary of State John Kerry is moving to calm concerns about fate of the Middle East Peace Process.

 

　　Kerry has issued a statement, saying he doesn't think the recent flap over Israeli settlement plans will derail the process.

 

　　"The United States of America views all of the settlements as illegitimate. That is the policy of the United States. And we have communicated that policy very clearly to our friends in Israel and we have worked very closely with the Palestinians in order to try to make certain that everybody understands what the road forward will be like. I think what this underscores, actually, is the importance of getting to the table, getting to the table quickly."

 

　　The Palestinians have condemned¹ the Israeli approval of nearly 12-hundred more settlements in east Jerusalem and the West Bank, just days before this week's talks.

 

　　A spokesperson for Israel's prime minister says the approval of the new settlements will not prevent the peace talks from moving forward.

 

　　However, Palestinian officials say the move is a deliberate blow for peace in the region.

 

　　Halting settlement construction is a major Palestinian demand in moving the peace talks forward.

 

　　Israel's move has also stirred up conflict between Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip.

 

　　Hamas leader Khalil al-Hayeh says Abbas and his Fatah movement have crossed red lines in their negotiations² with the Israelis.

 

　　"They crossed all red lines in their negotiations and what you see in the new talks they are talking about the international city of Jerusalem, they deny the right of return and they will transfer the refugees to settle in the Arab countries without their right to return."

 

　　A new round of peace talks are scheduled for Wednesday.

 

　　The last round of substantive³ talks was held in 2008.

 

　　However, the dispute over settlements has kept the two sides away from the table to this point.

1 condemned   

adj. 被责难的, 被宣告有罪的 动词condemn的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• He condemned the hypocrisy of those politicians who do one thing and say another. 他谴责了那些说一套做一套的政客的虚伪。
• The policy has been condemned as a regressive step. 这项政策被认为是一种倒退而受到谴责。

2 negotiations   

协商( negotiation的名词复数 )； 谈判； 完成（难事）； 通过

参考例句：

• negotiations for a durable peace 为持久和平而进行的谈判
• Negotiations have failed to establish any middle ground. 谈判未能达成任何妥协。

3 substantive   

adj.表示实在的；本质的、实质性的；独立的；n.实词，实名词；独立存在的实体

参考例句：

• They plan to meet again in Rome very soon to begin substantive negotiations.他们计划不久在罗马再次会晤以开始实质性的谈判。
• A president needs substantive advice,but he also requires emotional succor. 一个总统需要实质性的建议，但也需要感情上的支持。