2007年VOA标准英语-Bush Increases Support for Palestinian Presiden

By Paula Wolfson
White House
16 July 2007

President Bush is making a new push for Middle East peace. VOA White House correspondent Paula Wolfson reports he is calling for an international conference this year to move the peace process forward, and is pledging to increase aid to the Palestinian government of Mahmoud Abbas.

President Bush addresses the Mideast peace situation in Cross Hall at the White House in Washington, 16 Jul 2007

President Bush is seeking to bolster¹ Mahmoud Abbas and his government with diplomacy² and aid.

"By supporting the reforms of President Abbas and Prime Minister Fayyad, we can help them show the world what a Palestinian state would look like and act like," he said. "We can help them prove to the world, the region and Israel that a Palestinian state would be a partner, not a danger."

Mr. Bush says the United States will sponsor an international conference later this year involving Israel, the Abbas-led government and other countries in the region that support a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian dispute and reject violence. He says the goal is to bring the dream of a Palestinian state much closer to reality.

"Secretary [of State] Rice will chair the meeting," said Mr. Bush.  "She and her counterparts will review the progress that has been made toward building Palestinian institutions.  They will look for innovative³ and effective ways to support further reform. And they will provide diplomatic support for the parties in their bilateral⁴ discussions and negotiations⁵."

President Bush is also promising⁶ more U.S. aid to "strengthen the forces of moderation and peace among the Palestinian people." He says about $190 million has been set aside this year, and that 80 million would go directly to the government of Mahmoud Abbas to help reform the Palestinian security services.

"With all this assistance, we are showing the Palestinian people that a commitment to peace leads to the generous support for the United States," he said.

In a roughly 20-minute speech from the White House, the president noted⁷ that aid to the Palestinians - except for certain humanitarian⁸ assistance - was cut off after the Islamic militant⁹ group Hamas won parliamentary elections in January 2006. It was restored recently after President Abbas, whose Fatah forces were routed by Hamas in the Gaza Strip, replaced the Hamas prime minister.

Mr. Bush said it is clear the Palestinian people are at a crossroads in their history.

"This is a moment of clarity for all Palestinians and now comes a moment of choice," said the president.

He said the world must help show them the way.

"We must show that in the face of extremism and violence, we stand on the side of tolerance¹⁰ and decency," said Mr. Bush. "In the face of chaos¹¹ and murder, we stand on the side of law and justice. And in the face of terror and cynicism and anger, we stand on the side of peace in the Holy Land."

The president said there is a great deal for all sides to do. He urged the Israelis to stop settlement expansion and remove unauthorized outposts in Palestinian territory. And he called on the Palestinian government to do all it can to confront terrorism and block attacks on Israel.

1 bolster   

n.枕垫；v.支持，鼓励

参考例句：

• The high interest rates helped to bolster up the economy.高利率使经济更稳健。
• He tried to bolster up their morale.他尽力鼓舞他们的士气。

2 diplomacy   

n.外交；外交手腕，交际手腕

参考例句：

• The talks have now gone into a stage of quiet diplomacy.会谈现在已经进入了“温和外交”阶段。
• This was done through the skill in diplomacy. 这是通过外交手腕才做到的。

3 innovative   

adj.革新的，新颖的，富有革新精神的

参考例句：

• Discover an innovative way of marketing.发现一个创新的营销方式。
• He was one of the most creative and innovative engineers of his generation.他是他那代人当中最富创造性与革新精神的工程师之一。

4 bilateral   

adj.双方的，两边的，两侧的

参考例句：

• They have been negotiating a bilateral trade deal.他们一直在商谈一项双边贸易协定。
• There was a wide gap between the views of the two statesmen on the bilateral cooperation.对双方合作的问题，两位政治家各自所持的看法差距甚大。

5 negotiations   

协商( negotiation的名词复数 )； 谈判； 完成（难事）； 通过

参考例句：

• negotiations for a durable peace 为持久和平而进行的谈判
• Negotiations have failed to establish any middle ground. 谈判未能达成任何妥协。

6 promising   

adj.有希望的，有前途的

参考例句：

• The results of the experiments are very promising.实验的结果充满了希望。
• We're trying to bring along one or two promising young swimmers.我们正设法培养出一两名有前途的年轻游泳选手。

7 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

8 humanitarian   

n.人道主义者，博爱者，基督凡人论者

参考例句：

• She has many humanitarian interests and contributes a lot to them.她拥有很多慈善事业，并作了很大的贡献。
• The British government has now suspended humanitarian aid to the area.英国政府现已暂停对这一地区的人道主义援助。

9 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。

10 tolerance   

n.宽容；容忍，忍受；耐药力；公差

参考例句：

• Tolerance is one of his strengths.宽容是他的一个优点。
• Human beings have limited tolerance of noise.人类对噪音的忍耐力有限。

11 chaos   

n.混乱，无秩序

参考例句：

• After the failure of electricity supply the city was in chaos.停电后，城市一片混乱。
• The typhoon left chaos behind it.台风后一片混乱。