2007年VOA标准英语-Israel Lowers Expectations for Mideast Summit

By Robert Berger
Jerusalem
13 February 2007

Israel is lowering expectations for a three-way Mideast summit next week, in which the United States will mediate¹ between Israeli and Palestinian leaders. As Robert Berger reports from VOA's Jerusalem bureau, Israel is concerned about the formation of a new Palestinian unity² government, in which moderates and militants⁴ will share power.

 
Ehud Olmert
Israeli officials say there will be no talks on substantial issues at next Monday's summit in Jerusalem with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and moderate Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. Officials say it will be too difficult to address concrete issues after Mr. Abbas agreed to a national unity government with the ruling Islamic militant³ group Hamas last week.

The announcement underscores Israeli concerns that Hamas has not met key conditions for lifting international sanctions, namely, renouncing⁵ violence and recognizing Israel. Hamas, which seeks Israel's destruction, has said that it will never recognize the Jewish state.

Therefore, Israel fears that Mr. Abbas is serving as a "fig⁶ leaf" for Hamas, which has not moderated its views.

 
Mahmoud Abbas
Rice has said that Israel must offer the Palestinians a "political horizon" that will give them hope for achieving their goal of an independent state. And Israel says that will be on the agenda. 

"If the Palestinian people choose to go with the moderates, and it is their choice, then there is a political horizon, there is international support, there is every reason for hope for a better future," said government spokesman Mark Regev.

Palestinian officials from Mr. Abbas' Fatah faction⁷ expressed disappointment with the Israeli position and urged Israel to give the new unity government a chance. They said it is high time to begin talks on a final peace agreement.

Palestinian analyst⁸ Wadia Abu Nasser says the summit must be more than a photo-op.

"I truly believe that there is a good chance for resuming the peace process. But we should proceed, both sides-mainly the Israelis-in going for real substantial talks," said Nasser.

But Israel is reluctant to offer substantial concessions⁹ while Hamas plays a senior role in the Palestinian government.

1 mediate   

vi.调解，斡旋；vt.经调解解决；经斡旋促成

参考例句：

• The state must mediate the struggle for water resources.政府必须通过调解来解决对水资源的争夺。
• They may be able to mediate between parties with different interests.他们也许能在不同利益政党之间进行斡旋。

2 unity   

n.团结，联合，统一；和睦，协调

参考例句：

• When we speak of unity,we do not mean unprincipled peace.所谓团结，并非一团和气。
• We must strengthen our unity in the face of powerful enemies.大敌当前，我们必须加强团结。

3 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。

4 militants   

激进分子，好斗分子( militant的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The militants have been sporadically fighting the government for years. 几年来，反叛分子一直对政府实施零星的战斗。
• Despite the onslaught, Palestinian militants managed to fire off rockets. 尽管如此，巴勒斯坦的激进分子仍然发射导弹。

5 renouncing   

v.声明放弃( renounce的现在分词 )；宣布放弃；宣布与…决裂；宣布摒弃

参考例句：

• He enraged the government by renouncing the agreement. 他否认那项协议，从而激怒了政府。 来自辞典例句
• What do you get for renouncing Taiwan and embracing Beijing instead? 抛弃台湾，并转而拥抱北京之后，你会得到什么？ 来自互联网

6 fig   

n.无花果(树)

参考例句：

• The doctor finished the fig he had been eating and selected another.这位医生吃完了嘴里的无花果，又挑了一个。
• You can't find a person who doesn't know fig in the United States.你找不到任何一个在美国的人不知道无花果的。

7 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。

8 analyst   

n.分析家，化验员；心理分析学家

参考例句：

• What can you contribute to the position of a market analyst?你有什么技能可有助于市场分析员的职务？
• The analyst is required to interpolate values between standards.分析人员需要在这些标准中插入一些值。

9 concessions   

n.（尤指由政府或雇主给予的）特许权( concession的名词复数 )；承认；减价；（在某地的）特许经营权

参考例句：

• The firm will be forced to make concessions if it wants to avoid a strike. 要想避免罢工，公司将不得不作出一些让步。
• The concessions did little to placate the students. 让步根本未能平息学生的愤怒。