Israel on High Alert Ahead of Passover Holiday

Ross Dunn

Israeli security forces have gone on high alert for possible terror attacks before the week-long sacred Jewish Passover holiday, which begins at sunset on Monday. Israel says a closure imposed on the West Bank and Gaza Strip last month is to remain in force for weeks to come.

Israel's secret police, the Shin Bet, says it has received some 60 warnings of planned terror attacks over the Passover holiday.

Security officials say the warnings include efforts to launch a large-scale attack to avenge¹ Israel's assassination² of Hamas spiritual leader Sheikh Ahmed Yassin last month.

Hamas and the Islamic Jihad claimed joint³ responsibility for the killing⁴ on Saturday of an Israeli man in a Jewish settlement in the West Bank, saying it was in revenge for the sheikh's death.

Both groups are listed by the US State Department as terrorist organizations and have carried out frequent suicide bombings and other attacks that have killed hundreds of Israelis.

The Palestinian responsible for Saturday's attack on the Jewish settlement was identified as a member of Hamas. He was shot and killed by Israeli forces, who then demolished⁶ his family home in the Palestinian refugee camp in the West Bank town of Tulkarem.

Israel often demolishes⁷ the homes of Palestinians responsible for the killing of Israelis, saying it is meant to deter⁸ others from carrying out such attacks.
The Palestinian leadership condemns⁹ the policy as a form of collective punishment.

Meanwhile, Israeli Defense¹⁰ Minister Shaul Mofaz said Sunday a closure imposed on the Palestinian territories last month will remain in force until after the country celebrates its Independence Day in late April. He says this is necessary for Israel's security.

The decision means that thousands of Palestinians whose livelihood¹¹ depends on entering Israel for work will be prevented from doing so until the closure has been lifted.
注释：
sacred [5seikrid] adj. 神圣的，宗教的
Jewish [5dVu(:)iF] adj. 犹太人的，犹太族的
Passover 逾越节，耶稣的葬礼日
sunset [5sQnset] n. 日落
closure [5klEuVE] n. 关闭
West Bank 约旦河西岸，亚洲西南部，以色列与约旦之间、约旦河以西的一片有争议的区域。
Gaza Strip 加沙地带，西南亚地中海岸港市，巴勒斯坦的一部分，1967年被以色列占领。
assassination [E7sAsi5neiFEn] n. 暗杀
Islamic Jihad 伊斯兰圣战组织
Israeli [iz5reili] adj. 以色列共和国的
revenge [ri5vendV] n. 报仇，复仇
demolish⁵ [di5mCliF] vt. 捣毁，毁坏，破坏
Tulkarem 图勒凯姆，西岸的一个城市
livelihood [5laivlihud] n. 生计，谋生

 

1 avenge   

v.为...复仇，为...报仇

参考例句：

• He swore to avenge himself on the mafia.他发誓说要向黑手党报仇。
• He will avenge the people on their oppressor.他将为人民向压迫者报仇。

2 assassination   

n.暗杀；暗杀事件

参考例句：

• The assassination of the president brought matters to a head.总统遭暗杀使事态到了严重关头。
• Lincoln's assassination in 1865 shocked the whole nation.1865年，林肯遇刺事件震惊全美国。

3 joint   

adj.联合的，共同的；n.关节，接合处；v.连接，贴合

参考例句：

• I had a bad fall,which put my shoulder out of joint.我重重地摔了一跤，肩膀脫臼了。
• We wrote a letter in joint names.我们联名写了封信。

4 killing   

n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财

参考例句：

• Investors are set to make a killing from the sell-off.投资者准备清仓以便大赚一笔。
• Last week my brother made a killing on Wall Street.上个周我兄弟在华尔街赚了一大笔。

5 demolish   

v.拆毁(建筑物等)，推翻(计划、制度等)

参考例句：

• They're going to demolish that old building.他们将拆毁那座旧建筑物。
• He was helping to demolish an underground garage when part of the roof collapsed.他当时正在帮忙拆除一个地下汽车库，屋顶的一部份突然倒塌。

6 demolished   

v.摧毁( demolish的过去式和过去分词 )；推翻；拆毁（尤指大建筑物）；吃光

参考例句：

• The factory is due to be demolished next year. 这个工厂定于明年拆除。
• They have been fighting a rearguard action for two years to stop their house being demolished. 两年来，为了不让拆除他们的房子，他们一直在进行最后的努力。

7 demolishes   

v.摧毁( demolish的第三人称单数 )；推翻；拆毁（尤指大建筑物）；吃光

参考例句：

• Huge surges cause severe flooding that demolishes buildings, washes out beaches and highways, and drowns people. 巨大的涌浪引起剧烈的泛滥，从而摧毁房屋，冲坏海滩与公路，使人们惨遭灭顶之灾。 来自辞典例句

8 deter   

vt.阻止，使不敢，吓住

参考例句：

• Failure did not deter us from trying it again.失败并没有能阻挡我们再次进行试验。
• Dogs can deter unwelcome intruders.狗能够阻拦不受欢迎的闯入者。

9 condemns   

v.（通常因道义上的原因而）谴责( condemn的第三人称单数 )；宣判；宣布…不能使用；迫使…陷于不幸的境地

参考例句：

• Her widowhood condemns her to a lonely old age. 守寡使她不得不过着孤独的晚年生活。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The public opinion condemns prostitution. 公众舆论遣责卖淫。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

10 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。

11 livelihood   

n.生计，谋生之道

参考例句：

• Appropriate arrangements will be made for their work and livelihood.他们的工作和生活会得到妥善安排。
• My father gained a bare livelihood of family by his own hands.父亲靠自己的双手勉强维持家计。