VOA标准英语2009年-Israel, Palestinians Trade Blame for Stall

U.S. President Barack Obama made a fresh appeal Thursday for Israel and the Palestinians to jump-start stalled peace negotiations¹. But getting the two sides together will not be easy.

Israel and the Palestinians are trading blame after President Obama's call to resume peace talks. The right-wing government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says it has been ready to return to the negotiating table since it took power five months ago. But Israel says the Palestinians imposed an unacceptable precondition - namely, a complete freeze on settlement expansion.

"We are ready to open up a serious dialogue with the Palestinians without preconditions, without any further delay," said Israel's Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon.

Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat says his side is not imposing² conditions. Rather it is demanding that Israel fulfill³ its obligations under the internationally-backed "Roadmap" peace plan.

"Israel has an obligation under the roadmap to stop settlement activities," said Erekat.

President Obama called for a return to peace talks on Thursday, two days after the Israeli government announced a partial settlement freeze in the West Bank. While construction projects already underway will continue, Israel says no new projects have been approved since Mr. Netanyahu took office in March.

Mr. Obama welcomed the Israeli announcement as a sign of progress, but the Palestinians say it is a publicity⁴ stunt⁵. Palestinian officials say the current construction of thousands of Jewish homes will continue for years, creating facts on the ground in territory claimed for a future Palestinian state.

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 imposing   

adj.使人难忘的，壮丽的，堂皇的，雄伟的

参考例句：

• The fortress is an imposing building.这座城堡是一座宏伟的建筑。
• He has lost his imposing appearance.他已失去堂堂仪表。

3 fulfill   

vt.履行，实现，完成；满足，使满意

参考例句：

• If you make a promise you should fulfill it.如果你许诺了，你就要履行你的诺言。
• This company should be able to fulfill our requirements.这家公司应该能够满足我们的要求。

4 publicity   

n.众所周知，闻名；宣传，广告

参考例句：

• The singer star's marriage got a lot of publicity.这位歌星的婚事引起了公众的关注。
• He dismissed the event as just a publicity gimmick.他不理会这件事，只当它是一种宣传手法。

5 stunt   

n.惊人表演，绝技，特技；vt.阻碍...发育，妨碍...生长

参考例句：

• Lack of the right food may stunt growth.缺乏适当的食物会阻碍发育。
• Right up there is where the big stunt is taking place.那边将会有惊人的表演。