U.S. Special Envoy for the Middle East George Mitchell has begun meetings with officials in Israel to revive stalled peace efforts. Among the obstacles that Mitchell is facing is Israel's continuing expansion of Jewish settlements in the West Bank.
美国中东事务特使米切尔开始在以色列为恢复陷入停顿的和平努力，同有关官员举行会议。米切尔面临的障碍包括以色列继续在约旦河西岸扩建犹太人定居点。
U.S. envoy George Mitchell hopes to strike a deal for a meeting next week among Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, and U.S. President Barack Obama. The meeting would take place on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly in New York.
美国特使米切尔希望能达成一项协议，在下星期举行一次由以色列总理内塔尼亚胡、巴勒斯坦民族权力机构主席阿巴斯和美国总统奥巴马参加的三方会议。这次会议将在纽约联大会议期间抽空举行。
The U.S. official faced large hurdles this week, with all sides far apart on the key issue of Jewish settlements in the West Bank.
本星期，美国官员面临巨大的障碍，因为各方在约旦河西岸建造犹太人定居点的关键问题上，看法相去甚远。
The Palestinians say there must be some progress on the settlement issue before any meeting takes place.
巴勒斯坦说，在举行任何会谈之前，必须在定居点的问题上取得进展。
Speaking on Palestinian radio, Chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat said there will be no compromises from their side on their demand for Israel to freeze settlement activity.
巴勒斯坦谈判代表埃雷卡特在巴勒斯坦电台上说，巴勒斯坦在有关以色列冻结定居点活动的问题上没有任何妥协可言。
He said there is no middle solution on the settlement issue. He said Israel must stop all settlement activity, including construction to accommodate natural growth. He said Israel would then have to implement those agreements. Mr. Erekat said that would be the way to enter negotiations.
他说，在定居点的问题上没有中间道路可走。他说，以色列必须停止所有的定居点活动，包括为满足人口自然增长所建造的房屋。他说，以色列必须落实这些协议。埃雷卡特说，这才是恢复谈判的途径。
Washington also wants a settlement freeze.
华盛顿也要以色列冻结定居点的房屋建造活动。
Speaking after a weekly Cabinet meeting, Mr. Netanyahu said large gaps remained in talks with Mr. Mitchell.
内塔尼亚胡在每周内阁会议后表示，在同米切尔的会谈中，双方仍存在巨大的分歧。
Mr. Netanyahu said there are issues where there has been progress, and areas where there has been no progress. The Israeli leader said he hopes that the gaps will be narrowed in order to jumpstart the peace process, and he said Israel is not the one putting obstacles in the way. He said from that from his perspective, talks with the Palestinians could begin tomorrow.
内塔尼亚胡说，有些问题已经取得了进展，也有没有取得进展的领域。他说，他希望分歧能缩小，以便能启动和平进程。他说，不是以色列在和平进程中设置障碍。他表示，从他个人来看，以色列同巴勒斯坦明天就可以开始谈判。
The United States last week sharply criticized Israel's decision to issue 455 construction permits inside Jewish settlements in the Israeli-occupied West Bank.
上星期，美国尖锐批评以色列决定发放455个在它占领的约旦河西岸犹太人定居点内建筑的许可证。
Israel has not annexed the West Bank since capturing the territory following its victory in the 1967 Arab-Israeli war. Palestinians argue that settling occupied territory is illegal under international law.
Mr. Netanyahu on Sunday headed to Cairo to meet with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak.
内塔尼亚胡星期天前往开罗，会晤埃及总统穆巴拉克。
The two were expected to discuss settlement construction and Egypt's brokering of a possible Palestinian prisoner exchange that could bring the release of Gilad Shalit, an Israeli soldier captured by militants from Gaza in 2006.
预计两位领导人将讨论建造定居点的问题，以及在埃及斡旋下以色列同巴勒斯坦交换战俘的问题。解决这个问题将能让2006年被俘的以色列士兵沙利特获释。
Mitchell's schedule included meetings with Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman and President Shimon Peres on Sunday. Mr. Peres has just been released from a hospital in Tel Aviv after collapsing at an event Saturday.
米切尔的访问日程包括星期天会晤以色列外交部长利伯曼和以色列总统佩雷斯。佩雷斯刚从特拉维夫的一家医院出院。在星期六的一次活动中，佩雷斯突然昏倒。
The U.S. envoy is due to meet Monday with Prime Minister Netanyahu. He is scheduled to be in the West Bank on Tuesday for a meeting with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.
美国特使米切尔预计将于星期一会晤内塔尼亚胡总理。他还将于星期二前往约旦河西岸，会晤巴勒斯坦民族权力机构主席阿巴斯。 |