2006年VOA标准英语-Israel to Lift Air and Sea Blockade on Lebanon

By Robert Berger
Jerusalem
06 September 2006

Israel says it will lift its blockade of Lebanon's air and seaports¹ on Thursday. It is a boost to the fragile ceasefire between Israel and the Islamic militant² group Hezbollah.  

cedar3 tree of Lebanese flag on a checkpoint on road in Kfar Kila, south Lebanon" src="/upimg/allimg/070418/1019540.jpg" width="210" border="0" /> A Lebanese soldier paints cedar tree of Lebanese flag on a checkpoint on road in Kfar Kila, south Lebanon

The Israeli prime minister's office announced the lifting of the air and sea blockade, which was imposed at the beginning of the Lebanon war eight weeks ago. The aim of the blockade was to prevent the shipment of weapons to Hezbollah, which fired nearly 4,000 rockets at northern Israel during the 34-day conflict.

Israel will withdraw from positions at Lebanese sea and airports, and international forces will move in. Italian, French, British and Greek troops will participate in the mission, and German forces are expected to arrive in about two weeks.

Israeli government spokesman Mark Regev says their mandate⁴ is clear.

"To cut off supply lines, to make sure that there is an international arms embargo⁵ on Hezbollah, making sure that that organization cannot re-arm and re-group," he said. "Ultimately, the international community is committed to disarming⁶ Hezbollah."

Regev says that means dealing⁷ with the suppliers.

"The most dangerous support for Hezbollah comes from Iran and from Syria, those lorries after lorries bringing missiles and rockets and explosives for the terrorist movement," he said.

The blockade crippled Lebanon economically, and lifting it will help the devastated⁸ country to begin rebuilding. It is a diplomatic breakthrough, showing that Lebanon and Israel can cooperate through international mediation⁹. And it is seen as a sign that the three-week-old ceasefire is solidifying¹⁰.

1 seaports   

n.海港( seaport的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Airports have joined seaports as ports of entry for the visiting foreigner. 机场和海港一样成为来访的外国人的入境关口。 来自互联网
• Sanya has 16 seaports, 10 islands and 180km of coastline. 三亚有16个港口、10个海岛和180公里的海岸线。 来自互联网

2 militant   

adj.激进的，好斗的；n.激进分子，斗士

参考例句：

• Some militant leaders want to merge with white radicals.一些好斗的领导人要和白人中的激进派联合。
• He is a militant in the movement.他在那次运动中是个激进人物。

3 cedar   

n.雪松，香柏(木)

参考例句：

• The cedar was about five feet high and very shapely.那棵雪松约有五尺高,风姿优美。
• She struck the snow from the branches of an old cedar with gray lichen.她把长有灰色地衣的老雪松树枝上的雪打了下来。

4 mandate   

n.托管地；命令，指示

参考例句：

• The President had a clear mandate to end the war.总统得到明确的授权结束那场战争。
• The General Election gave him no such mandate.大选并未授予他这种权力。

5 embargo   

n.禁运（令）；vt.对...实行禁运，禁止（通商）

参考例句：

• This country put an oil embargo on an enemy country.该国对敌国实行石油禁运。
• During the war,they laid an embargo on commerce with enemy countries.在战争期间，他们禁止与敌国通商。

6 disarming   

adj.消除敌意的，使人消气的v.裁军( disarm的现在分词 )；使息怒

参考例句：

• He flashed her a disarming smile. 他朝她笑了一下，让她消消气。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• We will agree to disarming troops and leaving their weapons at military positions. 我们将同意解除军队的武装并把武器留在军事阵地。 来自辞典例句

7 dealing   

n.经商方法，待人态度

参考例句：

• This store has an excellent reputation for fair dealing.该商店因买卖公道而享有极高的声誉。
• His fair dealing earned our confidence.他的诚实的行为获得我们的信任。

8 devastated   

v.彻底破坏( devastate的过去式和过去分词)；摧毁；毁灭；在感情上（精神上、财务上等）压垮adj.毁坏的；极为震惊的

参考例句：

• The bomb devastated much of the old part of the city. 这颗炸弹炸毁了旧城的一大片地方。
• His family is absolutely devastated. 他的一家感到极为震惊。

9 mediation   

n.调解

参考例句：

• The dispute was settled by mediation of the third country. 这场争端通过第三国的斡旋而得以解决。
• The dispute was settled by mediation. 经调解使争端得以解决。

10 solidifying   

（使）成为固体，（使）变硬，（使）变得坚固( solidify的现在分词 )； 使团结一致； 充实，巩固； 具体化

参考例句：

• The substances are formed from a mixture of liquids solidifying under pressure. 这些材料是由几种液体混合在一起并加压使之凝固而成的。
• Painting is an art solidifies time and space for solidifying. 绘画是凝固了的时间和空间的艺术。