2007年VOA标准英语-Israel Transfers Funds to Palestinian Governmen

By Robert Berger
Jerusalem
02 July 2007

Israel is lifting crippling economic sanctions on the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank. As Robert Berger reports from VOA's Jerusalem bureau, the move is in response to the violent takeover of the Gaza Strip by the Islamic militant¹ group Hamas.

Mahmoud Abbas, 14 Jun 2007

Israel transferred $120 million in withheld² tax revenues to western-backed Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. The aim is to strengthen the moderate Abbas government in the West Bank, while isolating³ Hamas in Gaza.

Israeli Cabinet Minister Yitzhak Herzog.

"Now that the Hamas is out of the government, therefore we can definitely cooperate with this coalition⁴ to enhance and enable a moderate government to prevail in the West Bank," Herzog said.

Palestinian officials welcomed the transfer of funds.

"Despite the fact that President Abbas has been weakened by what has happened in Gaza, we do believe that very clear, direct steps will endorse⁵ his legitimacy," Justice Minister Riad al Maliki said.

Officials on both sides say Mr. Abbas can now show his people the tangible⁶ benefits of the peace process. For the first time in more than a year, he will be able to pay the full salaries of 165,000 civil servants. Employees in Hamas-controlled Gaza, however, will not be paid.

Putting further pressure on Hamas, Israel announced that it stopped an attempt by the group to increase its influence in Jerusalem. Israeli agents broke up what was described as a Hamas secret command that received funds through fictitious⁷ Islamic charities. Eleven alleged⁸ Hamas members were arrested.

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 withheld   

withhold过去式及过去分词

参考例句：

• I withheld payment until they had fulfilled the contract. 他们履行合同后，我才付款。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• There was no school play because the principal withheld his consent. 由于校长没同意，学校里没有举行比赛。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 isolating   

adj.孤立的，绝缘的v.使隔离( isolate的现在分词 )；将…剔出（以便看清和单独处理）；使（某物质、细胞等）分离；使离析

参考例句：

• Colour filters are not very effective in isolating narrow spectral bands. 一些滤色片不能很有效地分离狭窄的光谱带。 来自辞典例句
• This became known as the streak method for isolating bacteria. 这个方法以后就称为分离细菌的划线法。 来自辞典例句

4 coalition   

n.结合体，同盟，结合，联合

参考例句：

• The several parties formed a coalition.这几个政党组成了政治联盟。
• Coalition forces take great care to avoid civilian casualties.联盟军队竭尽全力避免造成平民伤亡。

5 endorse   

vt.(支票、汇票等)背书，背署；批注；同意

参考例句：

• No one is foolish enough to endorse it.没有哪个人会傻得赞成它。
• I fully endorse your opinions on this subject.我完全拥护你对此课题的主张。

6 tangible   

adj.有形的，可触摸的，确凿的，实际的

参考例句：

• The policy has not yet brought any tangible benefits.这项政策还没有带来任何实质性的好处。
• There is no tangible proof.没有确凿的证据。

7 fictitious   

adj.虚构的，假设的；空头的

参考例句：

• She invented a fictitious boyfriend to put him off.她虚构出一个男朋友来拒绝他。
• The story my mother told me when I was young is fictitious.小时候妈妈对我讲的那个故事是虚构的。

8 alleged   

a.被指控的，嫌疑的

参考例句：

• It was alleged that he had taken bribes while in office. 他被指称在任时收受贿赂。
• alleged irregularities in the election campaign 被指称竞选运动中的不正当行为