VOA标准英语2009-Netanyahu, Obama To Meet At White House Monday

Israel's new prime minister begins a visit to Washington Sunday for talks with U.S. officials on Israeli-Arab peace prospects¹ and Iran's nuclear program.
　
Benjamin Netanyahu

The thorny² issue of Palestinian statehood will top the agenda when hawkish³ Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sits down with President Barack Obama at the White House. For the first time in years, there are key disagreements between the United States and Israel. Mr. Obama has endorsed⁴ a two-state solution as the only way to Middle East peace, but Mr. Netanyahu has not.

Israeli spokesman Dan Gillerman:

"I think the Prime Minister is presenting a very realistic and yet pragmatic position," Gillerman said.

Mr. Netanyahu believes that a Palestinian terror state could develop in the West Bank, similar to what happened when the Islamic militant⁵ group Hamas seized control of the Gaza Strip. Hamas ousted⁶ the Fatah forces of U.S.-backed Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in a civil war two years ago. Today, Mr. Abbas heads a more moderate government in the West Bank, but Israel fears he could be toppled by Hamas.

In addition, Mr. Netanyahu sees Iran as a more pressing issue than the Palestinian track. With the Iranian president threatening to wipe Israel "off the map," he will tell Mr. Obama that Iran must not be allowed to acquire nuclear weapons.

Israel has expressed concern over Mr. Obama's plans to negotiate with Iran, saying Teheran would use those talks to buy time while moving closer to nuclear capability⁷. If international sanctions fail, Israel has threatened to attack Iran's nuclear facilities, a move that Washington opposes.

Playing down the differences, Gillerman says Mr. Netanyahu is confident that the two allies can find common ground.

"He sees in that meeting with President Obama a chance for two new leaders, two leaders who were elected when the world is probably at its most dangerous ever, sitting together as friends and allies and finding a way to make this world safer," Gillerman said.

Palestinian officials have warned that unless Mr. Netanyahu endorses⁸ the two-state solution, there is no sense in resuming peace talks.

1 prospects   

n.希望，前途(恒为复数)

参考例句：

• There is a mood of pessimism in the company about future job prospects. 公司中有一种对工作前景悲观的情绪。
• They are less sanguine about the company's long-term prospects. 他们对公司的远景不那么乐观。

2 thorny   

adj.多刺的，棘手的

参考例句：

• The young captain is pondering over a thorny problem.年轻的上尉正在思考一个棘手的问题。
• The boys argued over the thorny points in the lesson.孩子们辩论功课中的难点。

3 hawkish   

adj. 鹰派的, 强硬派的

参考例句：

• My staff's advice that first day was amazingly hawkish. 在第一天，我的僚属们的意见是令人吃惊的鹰派意见。
• Antiwar groups fear Barack Obama may create hawkish Cabinet. 反战团体担心巴拉克·奥巴马可以创建强硬派内阁。

4 endorsed   

vt.& vi.endorse的过去式或过去分词形式v.赞同( endorse的过去式和过去分词 )；在（尤指支票的）背面签字；在（文件的）背面写评论；在广告上说本人使用并赞同某产品

参考例句：

• The committee endorsed an initiative by the chairman to enter discussion about a possible merger. 委员会通过了主席提出的新方案，开始就可能进行的并购进行讨论。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The government has broadly endorsed a research paper proposing new educational targets for 14-year-olds. 政府基本上支持建议对14 岁少年实行新教育目标的研究报告。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 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。

6 ousted   

驱逐( oust的过去式和过去分词 )； 革职； 罢黜； 剥夺

参考例句：

• He was ousted as chairman. 他的主席职务被革除了。
• He may be ousted by a military takeover. 他可能在一场军事接管中被赶下台。

7 capability   

n.能力；才能；(pl)可发展的能力或特性等

参考例句：

• She has the capability to become a very fine actress.她有潜力成为杰出演员。
• Organizing a whole department is beyond his capability.组织整个部门是他能力以外的事。

8 endorses   

v.赞同( endorse的第三人称单数 )；在（尤指支票的）背面签字；在（文件的）背面写评论；在广告上说本人使用并赞同某产品

参考例句：

• There isn't one country in the Middle East that now endorses the Eisenhower Doctrine. 但至今没有一个中东国家认可它。 来自辞典例句
• Whether any of this truly endorses Dr Patel's hypothesis is moot. 这些视频能否真正证明帕特的假设成立还是个未知数。 来自互联网