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　　America's top diplomat¹ is in the Middle East trying to get the peace process back on track.
美国国务卿赖斯正在中东访问，试图推动中东和平进程重回轨道。
Israeli settlement expansion topped the agenda as Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice met separately with Israeli and Palestinian leaders. Rice used exceptionally harsh language to condemn² Israel's announcement on Friday that it plans to build 1,300 new homes in disputed East Jerusalem, on land the Palestinians claim for their future capital.
在美国国务卿赖斯跟以色列和巴勒斯坦领导人分别举行会谈时，以色列扩大定居点的问题是主要议程。赖斯使用不同寻常的严厉措辞指责以色列星期五宣布的准备在有争议的东耶路撒冷建造1千3百个新住房的计划。巴勒斯坦人把东耶路撒冷称作他们未来的首都。
"I do believe and the United States believes that the actions and the announcements that are taking place are indeed having a negative effect on the atmosphere for negotiation," said Condoleezza Rice. "And that is not what we want. We should be in a position of encouraging confidence, not undermining it."
赖斯说：“我确信，美国认为这种行动和宣布对谈判的气氛造成负面影响。这不是我们想要的。我们应当立足于鼓励建立信心，而不是破坏它。”
Rice spoke³ at a news conference with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in the West Bank town of Ramallah.
赖斯是在西岸城市拉马拉跟巴勒斯坦领导人阿巴斯举行记者会时讲这番话的。
"We believe that settlement is the highest hurdle⁴ on the road of our political endeavors," said Mahmoud Abbas. "With the continued expansion and building of settlements the more tough the hurdle would become."
阿巴斯说：“我们认为定居点问题是我们为之奋斗的政治道路上的最大障碍。随着定居点建设的继续扩大，障碍也日益增大。”
Israel says it has the right to build anywhere in Jerusalem because it will remain the capital of the Jewish state in any final peace agreement.
以色列说，以色列有权在耶路撒冷任何地方建造定居点，因为在双方达成的最终协议中，耶路撒冷是以色列首都，这种地位不会改变。
Despite the obstacles, Rice said both sides remain committed to the peace process.
尽管有这些障碍，赖斯表示以巴双方仍然致力于和平进程。
"We are all devoted⁵ to and believe that it is possible to establish the agreement between the Palestinians and the Israelis for the establishment of a Palestinian state by the end of the year," said Mahmoud Abbas.
赖斯说：“我们都在努力，并相信，巴勒斯坦人和以色列为今年年底建立巴勒斯坦国达成协议是可能的。”
But that goal is in doubt because in addition to the settlements, gaps are wide on core issues like Palestinian refugees and the status of Jerusalem.
不过，这个目标是否能够达到令人怀疑，因为除了定居点之外，在像巴勒斯坦难民和耶路撒冷地位的核心问题上仍然存在很大差距。
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert is also embroiled⁶ in a corruption⁷ scandal that could force him to step down. In the meantime, Mr. Olmert is widely seen as too weak to close a peace deal involving major territorial⁸ concessions⁹ to the Palestinians.
以色列总理奥尔默特还跟一起腐败丑闻有牵连，这也许会迫使他下台。奥尔默特被广泛评价为过于软弱，从而无法达成一项牵涉到对巴勒斯坦人做出领土让步这类重大问题的协议。