VOA标准英语2008年-Mideast Summit Overshadowed by Settlements, Cor

By Robert Berger
Jerusalem
02 June 2008

Israeli and Palestinian leaders have held a summit meeting in a bid to advance the peace process. But new obstacles have emerged, as we hear from Robert Berger at the VOA bureau in Jerusalem.
　

Mahmoud Abbas (l) and Ehud Olmert in Jerusalem, 02 Jun 2008

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert hosted Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas at his official residence in Jerusalem. They discussed the status of negotiations¹, as the United States pushes for a peace agreement by the end of the year.

But that goal has been put further in doubt by Israeli settlement expansion and a corruption² scandal embroiling³ Mr. Olmert. He is facing growing demands to resign after an American Jewish businessman testified that he gave him envelopes stuffed with cash to support a lavish⁴ lifestyle. Those calling for Mr. Olmert to step down include his foreign and defense⁵ ministers.

In addition, Mr. Olmert infuriated the Palestinians by approving plans for nearly 900 new housing units for Israelis in disputed East Jerusalem, on land the Palestinians claim for a future state.

Before the meeting, President Abbas issued an angry protest.

"If Israel does not stop these settlement activities, it will be difficult to reach a peace agreement," he said.

The Palestinians and the U.S. say the "roadmap" peace plan, on which negotiations are based, requires a freeze in construction in the settlements. But Israeli spokesman Mark Regev says that does not apply to Jerusalem, which is the eternal capital of the State of Israel.

"In the Jewish neighborhoods of Jerusalem, there's not going to be a freeze, there can't be a freeze," he said. "We never promised to freeze construction in those areas."

Prime Minister Olmert reassured⁶ President Abbas that the corruption scandal would not affect negotiations and that Israel remains⁷ committed to the goal of a peace agreement by the end of the year. After the summit meeting, Mr. Olmert headed to Washington for talks with President Bush.

1 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。

2 corruption   

n.腐败，堕落，贪污

参考例句：

• The people asked the government to hit out against corruption and theft.人民要求政府严惩贪污盗窃。
• The old man reviled against corruption.那老人痛斥了贪污舞弊。

3 embroiling   

v.使（自己或他人）卷入纠纷( embroil的现在分词 )

参考例句：

4 lavish   

adj.无节制的；浪费的；vt.慷慨地给予，挥霍

参考例句：

• He despised people who were lavish with their praises.他看不起那些阿谀奉承的人。
• The sets and costumes are lavish.布景和服装极尽奢华。

5 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。

6 reassured   

adj.使消除疑虑的；使放心的v.再保证，恢复信心( reassure的过去式和过去分词)

参考例句：

• The captain's confidence during the storm reassured the passengers. 在风暴中船长的信念使旅客们恢复了信心。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
• The doctor reassured the old lady. 医生叫那位老妇人放心。 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。