Egypt is partially opening its border with the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip. The border crossings are a key issue in Israeli-Palestinian cease-fire talks.
埃及部分开放跟哈马斯控制的加沙地带相邻的边界过境点。开放过境点是以色列跟巴勒斯坦停火谈判的关键问题。
Egyptian authorities opened the border with Gaza for the first time in months, partially easing a crippling blockade. More than 2,000 Palestinians students and medical patients, as well as stranded foreigners, will be allowed to leave Gaza during the next three days.
埃及有关当局几个月来第一次开放了通往加沙的过境点，一定程度上放松给加沙造成严重损害的边界封锁。2千多名巴勒斯坦学生和病人以及受困的外国人将获准在未来三天离开加沙。
Both Egypt and Israel sealed their borders with Gaza after the Islamic militant group Hamas seized control of the territory nearly two years ago, ousting the forces of western-backed Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas . Egypt and Israel are demanding a return to the previous situation in which officials loyal to Mr. Abbas controlled the border crossings under an international agreement.
伊斯兰激进组织哈马斯近两年前从得到西方支持的巴勒斯坦民族权力机构主席阿巴斯的军队手中夺取了对加沙地带的控制权，此后埃及和以色列便关闭了它们跟加沙的边界。埃及和以色列要求加沙恢复到以前的局面，即根据一项国际协议，由效忠阿巴斯的官员管理过境点。
Former Palestinian Cabinet Minister Ziad abu Zayyad says the blockade has been counterproductive. He says that after Israel's recent three-week military assault on Gaza, Palestinians need normalcy.
前巴勒斯坦内阁部长阿布-扎亚德说，封锁边界的效果适得其反。他说，以色列最近对加沙进行了三个星期的军事进攻之后，巴勒斯坦人需要恢复正常的生活。
"And normalizing the life in Gaza means opening the passages and allowing people to have all their needs through the passages, whether to Israel or to Egypt," abu Zayyad said. "I think this will be a major step to contributing to peace."
扎亚德说：“恢复加沙的正常生活就是说要开放过境点，让加沙人民所需的物品得以通过以色列或者埃及的过境点进入加沙。我认为这是促成和平的重要步骤。”
Negotiations are currently underway to reopen the border passages as part of a long-term cease-fire between Hamas and Israel. But the Egyptian-mediated talks hit a snag, when Israel linked any truce with the release of captive Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, held for more than two years by Hamas in Gaza. Israeli Cabinet Minister Meir Sheetrit.
有关各方目前正在进行重新开放过境点的谈判，这是哈马斯跟以色列之间长期停火谈判的内容之一。不过，由埃及调停的停火谈判遇到阻力，因为以色列把释放被俘以色列军人沙利特做为停火协议的前提。两年多前，沙利特在加沙被哈马斯俘获。
"This time we have to bring back Gilad home," Sheetrit said. "I think it is inconceivable to believe that we can live him there for more time. It must be one of the conditions to open those passages and one of the conditions for [a]cease-fire."
以色列内阁部长梅厄.谢特里特说：“这次我们必须要让沙利夫获释回家。我想，如果有人认为我们会让他继续被关押在加沙，那是不可思议的。必须把释放沙利特做为开放过境点和停火的条件之一。”
Israel is prepared to release 1,000 Palestinian prisoners in exchange for Shalit, but Hamas insists the border crossings must be opened first and that the two issues are not linked. Shalit is a powerful bargaining chip that gives Hamas leverage with Israel, and the group is in no hurry to give him up.
以色列准备释放1千名巴勒斯坦犯人来交换沙利特，不过，哈马斯坚持必须首先开放过境点，并且不能把释放沙利特和开放过境点联系在一起。在哈马斯跟以色列的谈判中，沙利特是他们跟以色列讨价还价的一个很有份量的筹码，这个优势让哈马斯不急于释放沙利特。 |