2007年VOA标准英语-Olmert Adopts Wait and See Attitude on Palestin

By Robert Berger
Jerusalem
11 February 2007

Israeli PM Ehud Olmert pauses during the weekly cabinet meeting in Jerusalem, 11 Feb 2006

Israel has given a cautious response to the new Palestinian government agreed to in Mecca last week, in which the ruling Islamic militant¹ group Hamas and rival and more moderate Fatah faction² will share power. Meanwhile, tensions between Jews and Muslims remain high as Israel decides to proceed with a controversial construction project at a hotly disputed holy site in Jerusalem. Robert Berger reports from VOA's Jerusalem bureau.

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert says the new Palestinian government must abide³ by three conditions set down by the international community.

Mr. Olmert said the Hamas-led Palestinian Authority must recognize Israel, renounce⁴ violence and terror, and accept previous peace agreements. Taking a similar position to the United States and European Union, he said Israel will wait and see how the new government responds.

Hamas has met one only one of the conditions - respecting previous peace agreements. But the group seeks Israel's destruction and says it will never recognize the Jewish state.

If that does not change, Israel believes international sanctions that have crippled the Hamas-led government should remain in place.

In another Cabinet decision, ministers gave the green light for controversial construction work to continue near the Mosque⁵ of al-Aksa in Jerusalem's Old City, the third holiest place in Islam. For Jews, it is the Temple Mount, the site of the two biblical Temples and the holiest place in Judaism.

Israel began renovating⁶ a damaged walkway leading to the holy place last week, sparking violent protests by Palestinians who charge that the project could damage the foundations of the mosque.

Israeli Cabinet Minister Roni Bar-On denies that, and said Israel has the right to maintain the holy places near the Western Wall.

"We will not cave in to Muslim threats, incitement⁷ and blackmail," he said.

Ziyad Abu Zayyad, a former minister of Jerusalem Affairs in the Palestinian Authority, said Israel should reconsider.

He told Israel Radio that the Israeli government should maintain the status quo in Jerusalem and avoid provocations⁸ that raise tensions between Jews and Muslims.

Israeli police have beefed up their forces in and around the Old City, to forestall⁹ further unrest.

1 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。

2 faction   

n.宗派，小集团；派别；派系斗争

参考例句：

• Faction and self-interest appear to be the norm.派系之争和自私自利看来非常普遍。
• I now understood clearly that I was caught between the king and the Bunam's faction.我现在完全明白自己已陷入困境，在国王与布纳姆集团之间左右为难。

3 abide   

vi.遵守；坚持；vt.忍受

参考例句：

• You must abide by the results of your mistakes.你必须承担你的错误所造成的后果。
• If you join the club,you have to abide by its rules.如果你参加俱乐部，你就得遵守它的规章。

4 renounce   

v.放弃；拒绝承认，宣布与…断绝关系

参考例句：

• She decided to renounce the world and enter a convent.她决定弃绝尘世去当修女。
• It was painful for him to renounce his son.宣布与儿子脱离关系对他来说是很痛苦的。

5 mosque   

n.清真寺

参考例句：

• The mosque is a activity site and culture center of Muslim religion.清真寺为穆斯林宗教活动场所和文化中心。
• Some years ago the clock in the tower of the mosque got out of order.几年前，清真寺钟楼里的大钟失灵了。

6 renovating   

翻新，修复，整修( renovate的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• The increased production was largely attained by renovating old orchards and vineyards. 通过更新老果园和葡萄园，使生产大大增加。
• Renovating that house will cost you a pretty penny. 为了整修那所房子，你得花很多钱。

7 incitement   

激励； 刺激； 煽动； 激励物

参考例句：

• incitement to racial hatred 种族仇恨的挑起
• Interest is an incitement to study. 兴趣刺激学习。

8 provocations   

n.挑衅( provocation的名词复数 )；激怒；刺激；愤怒的原因

参考例句：

• We cannot ignore such provocations. 对于这种挑衅，我们不能置之不理。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• They must immediately cease all their provocations. 他们必须停止一切挑衅。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

9 forestall   

vt.抢在…之前采取行动；预先阻止

参考例句：

• I left the room to forestall involvements.我抢先离开了这房间以免受牵累。
• He followed this rule in order to forestall rumors.他遵守这条规矩是为了杜绝流言蜚语。