U.S. Envoy George Mitchell is in Israel, meeting with officials in an effort to restart the Israeli-Palestinian peace process. His aim is to turn the message of President Obama to the Muslim world last week - a message that included the U.S. call for a freeze of Jewish settlements and the creation of a Palestinian state - into a practical plan. Mitchell faces a challenge, as government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu opposes those measures.
美国特使米切尔在以色列与官员会面，以努力重新启动以色列与巴勒斯坦的和平进程。他的目的是把奥巴马总统上星期向穆斯林世界发出的信息转化成一个具体计划。奥巴马在讲话中呼吁冻结犹太人定居点的扩建以及建立巴勒斯坦国。米切尔面临考验，因为以色列总理内塔尼亚胡反对那些措施。
U.S. Special Envoy George Mitchell met with Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Ehud Barak, Tuesday.
美国特使米切尔星期二和内塔尼亚胡总理和巴拉克国防部长等以色列官员会了面。
After meeting with President Shimon Peres, Mitchell said his goal is to set the stage for a prompt resumption and early conclusion of peace talks between Israeli and Palestinians.
米切尔在会见佩雷斯总统以后说，他的目标是为以色列和巴勒斯坦迅速重续谈判和及早完成和平进程奠定基础。
The Obama administration wants a total freeze on settlement expansion - something Mr. Netanyahu has said Israel will not do. The Israeli leader wants to avoid entering full-fledged peace negotiations with the Palestinians that would require Israel to make concessions on sensitive issues such as the status of Jerusalem and Jewish settlements in the West Bank.
奥巴马政府要完全冻结犹太人定居点的扩建，而内塔尼亚胡曾经说，以色列不愿意这样做。内塔尼亚胡希望避免与巴勒斯坦人全面展开和平谈判，因为谈判会要求以色列就耶路撒冷的地位和在约旦河西岸的犹太人定居点这类敏感问题作出让步。
Mitchell reassured Israeli officials that the United States remains committed to Israel's security. The same message was conveyed by President Obama to Mr. Netanyahu during a telephone conversation on Monday.
而米切尔向以色列官员保证，美国仍然致力于保障以色列的安全。
In Jerusalem Tuesday, Mitchell said any disagreement between Washington and Israel are not disagreements among adversaries. He says the United States and Israel remain close allies and friends. However, he says Israel and the Palestinians must both stick to the terms of the "roadmap" to peace.
米切尔星期二在耶路撒冷说，华盛顿与以色列之间的意见分歧并非敌对双方之间的分歧。他说，美国和以色列仍然是亲密盟国和朋友。但是他又说，以色列和巴勒斯坦必须都遵守“路线图”的规划迈向和平。
That 2003 plan calls for an independent, democratic and viable Palestinian state to emerge and exist side by side in peace and security with Israel.
Analysts say Mr. Netanyahu knows it is not in Israel's interest to antagonize Washington - the Jewish state's biggest ally and supporter. Akiva Eldar, a senior columnist with the Ha'aretz newspaper in Tel Aviv, says U.S. pressure may force Mr. Netanyahu to make tough political decisions.
分析人士说，内塔尼亚胡知道触犯华盛顿不符合以色列的利益，因为美国是这个犹太人国家最重要的盟友和支持者。设在特拉维夫的以色列国土报的资深专栏作家埃尔达说，美国施加的压力可能会迫使内塔尼亚胡作出困难的政治决定。
"Israel will be left with the choice of saying 'no' both to the United States and to the Palestinians, and to the Arab world, or to say 'yes' and confront the settlers and his constituency," said Eldar.
他说：“以色列面临的选择就是，要么拒绝美国、巴勒斯坦和阿拉伯世界的要求，要么同意他们的要求，但是这样就要面临犹太人定居者和他的选民的不快。”
Many Israelis and Palestinians interpreted Mr. Obama's speech, last week, as a sign that the United States is serious about moving the peace process along. Eldar says Mitchell's job is to make sure Israeli officials understand that message.
许多以色列人和巴勒斯坦人认为奥巴马上星期的讲话是一个迹象，显示美国在推动和平进程的问题上是认真的。埃尔达说，米切尔的使命是确保以色列官方理解这一信息。
"Perhaps it is time for the U.S. to talk directly to the Israeli public and make it clear that they are serious and this old game that we've been playing for many years of this so-called peace process that does not lead to anything is over," he said.
The U.S. envoy is to meet with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in the West Bank, Wednesday.
这位美国特使星期三即将在约旦河西岸与巴勒斯坦权力机构主席阿巴斯会面，他这次出访中东地区的行程还包括黎巴嫩和叙利亚。
His trip to the region includes stops in Lebanon and Syria.
Prospects for including Lebanon in the peace process have improved with the victory of a Western-backed coalition in elections, this week.
Both Syria and Lebanon host and hold influence over armed Islamist groups that threaten the Jewish state. |