VOA标准英语2010年-EU Envoy Criticizes Israel During Gaza

European Union Foreign Policy Chief Catherine Ashton, left, talks to a Palestinian chemist at a pharmaceutical¹ company lab in Beit Hanoun, northern Gaza Strip, 18 Jul 2010

European Union Foreign Policy Chief Catherine Ashton visited war-torn Gaza, a month after Israel eased its crippling land blockade.  She said it is not enough. 

"The position of the European Union is very clear, that we want to see the opportunity for people to be able to move around freely, to see goods not only coming into Gaza, but exports coming out of Gaza," Ashton said.

Israel came under intense pressure to ease the three-year-old blockade following its deadly commando raid on an aid flotilla trying to sail to Gaza seven weeks ago.  Nine pro-Palestinian activists² were killed, sparking international outrage³.

Since then, Israel has allowed all food and some building supplies into Gaza.  But Israel bans most exports from Gaza because it is ruled by Hamas, a Palestinian militant⁴ group that is at war with the Jewish state.  In addition, the naval⁵ blockade on Gaza remains⁶ in force.

At the weekly Cabinet meeting in Jerusalem, Israeli officials said Ashton is not taking Israel's security concerns into account.

"It is in the best interest of everyone who does not want to see a new round of violence in the area, to make sure that no weapons and no ammunition⁷ get to the Hamas government in Gaza," Cabinet Minister Yuli Edelstein said.

Palestinian business leaders in Gaza told Ashton that the economy cannot recover unless Israel allows shipments of all raw materials.  But Israel bans supplies like fertilizer which can be used for explosives and cement which can be used for bunkers and military infrastructure⁸.

 

1 pharmaceutical   

adj.药学的，药物的；药用的，药剂师的

参考例句：

• She has donated money to establish a pharmaceutical laboratory.她捐款成立了一个药剂实验室。
• We are engaged in a legal tussle with a large pharmaceutical company.我们正同一家大制药公司闹法律纠纷。

2 activists   

n.（政治活动的）积极分子，活动家( activist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• His research work was attacked by animal rights activists . 他的研究受到了动物权益维护者的抨击。
• Party activists with lower middle class pedigrees are numerous. 党的激进分子中有很多出身于中产阶级下层。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 outrage   

n.暴行，侮辱，愤怒；vt.凌辱，激怒

参考例句：

• When he heard the news he reacted with a sense of outrage.他得悉此事时义愤填膺。
• We should never forget the outrage committed by the Japanese invaders.我们永远都不应该忘记日本侵略者犯下的暴行。

4 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。

5 naval   

adj.海军的，军舰的，船的

参考例句：

• He took part in a great naval battle.他参加了一次大海战。
• The harbour is an important naval base.该港是一个重要的海军基地。

6 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。

7 ammunition   

n.军火，弹药

参考例句：

• A few of the jeeps had run out of ammunition.几辆吉普车上的弹药已经用光了。
• They have expended all their ammunition.他们把弹药用光。

8 infrastructure   

n.下部构造，下部组织，基础结构，基础设施

参考例句：

• We should step up the development of infrastructure for research.加强科学基础设施建设。
• We should strengthen cultural infrastructure and boost various types of popular culture.加强文化基础设施建设，发展各类群众文化。