Senior officials from the United States are converging on Israel for talks on the Middle East conflict and Iran.
美国高级官员在以色列聚集，进行有关中东冲突和伊朗问题的会谈。
U.S. Middle East envoy George Mitchell will hold three days of separate talks with Israeli and Palestinian leaders in an effort to advance the peace process. But in a sign the United States is not focusing solely on the Palestinian issue, Mitchell began his mission in Damascus.
美国中东特使米切尔将举行3天的会谈，他将分别会见以色列和巴勒斯坦领导人，争取推动和平进程。但是，美国不是只把注意力放在巴勒斯坦问题上，从米切尔是从大马士革开始了他的任务这个迹象可以看出这一点。
"President Obama is determined to facilitate a truly comprehensive Arab-Israeli peace," Mitchell said. "That means peace between Palestinians and Israelis, between Syria and Israel, and between Lebanon and Israel."
米切尔说：“奥巴马总统决定推动一个确实全面的阿拉伯和以色列间的和平。这意味着包括了巴勒斯坦和以色列，叙利亚和以色列，黎巴嫩和以色列之间的和平。”
Mitchell will press Israel to halt Jewish settlement expansion in the West Bank and disputed East Jerusalem. Israel has rejected U.S. demands for a total freeze on settlement construction, souring relations with Washington.
米切尔将敦促以色列停止在约旦河西岸和有争议的东耶路撒冷地区扩建犹太人定居点。以色列拒绝接受美国对其完全停止定居点建设的要求，这也影响了以色列同华盛顿的关系。
But Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu played down the dispute at the weekly Cabinet meeting in Jerusalem.
但以色列总理内塔尼亚胡在耶路撒冷每周例行内阁会议上，淡化处理这个分歧。
Mr. Netanyahu said that while allies sometimes have disagreements, the U.S. and Israel are trying to come to an understanding. He said both countries "have a common goal of peace, security and prosperity for the entire Middle East."
内塔尼亚胡说，虽然盟友间有时会有分歧，但美国和以色列正试图达成共识。他说，两国“有共同的目标，就是整个中东地区的和平、安全与繁荣。”
On Monday, Iran will top the agenda when U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates meets with Israeli leaders. He is expected to press Israel not to carry out its threat to attack Iran's nuclear facilities.
美国国防部长盖茨星期一将会见以色列领导人，伊朗是最重要的议题。他预计会敦促以色列不要进行它所威胁的，袭击伊朗核设施的行动。
But Israeli spokesman Zalman Shoval says with Iran's president still threatening to wipe the Jewish state "off the map", Israel is making no promises.
但是以色列发言人舒瓦尔说，因为伊朗总统仍然威胁要从“地图上抹去”这个犹太民族国家，所以以色列不会作出承诺。
"All options are still on the table, which includes, of course, a military option," Shoval said.
舒瓦尔说：“所有选择仍然还摆在桌上，这其中当然还包括军事选择”。
Iran says its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes, but the United States and Israel believe the Islamic Republic is trying to acquire the atom bomb.
伊朗说其核计划完全用于和平目的，但美国和以色列认为，伊朗伊斯兰共和国是试图制造原子弹。 |