Bush, Mubarak View Plan to Close Gaza Settlements as 'Positi

 

 

Greg Flakus

 

President Bush and Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak met Monday at Mr. Bush's ranch¹ near Crawford, Texas, where they discussed Iraq and the Middle East in general. Both leaders are backing a proposal by Israel to close settlements in the Gaza strip, as long as it is part of an overall move for peace in the Middle East.

 

President Bush says he and President Mubarak would view an Israeli closing of settlements in Gaza as a positive development, but that the only way to bring lasting² peace is through the U.S.-sponsored "road map" to peace.

 

"We both are in agreement that if Israel makes the decision to withdraw it does not replace the road map, it is a part of the road map, so that we can continue progress toward the two-state solution," Mr. Bush said.

 

For his part, President Mubarak expressed interest in the Israeli initiative, but also insisted that any move be part of the overall plan for a comprehensive peace agreement.

 

"Any withdrawal³ from the occupied territory is very highly appreciated, but I would like the withdrawal to coincide with the road map, which is very important," he said.

 

Under the U.S.-backed plan, a Palestinian state would be created by the year 2005 as part of an agreement that would also include Palestinian recognition of the Jewish state of Israel. Mr. Bush says that terrorists are threatening the realization⁴ of that plan and he expressed the hope that they can be stopped.

 

The plan put forward by Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon involves the closing of 21 Jewish settlements in Gaza, but only a few on the West Bank. President Bush says he will discuss this issue further when he meets the Israeli leader in Washington on Wednesday.

 

ranch [rAntF] n. 大农场

Crawford 克劳福德，位于美国得克萨斯州中部

Texas [5teksEs] n. 德克萨斯州（美国州名）

Gaza strip 加沙地带，西南亚地中海岸港市，巴勒斯坦的一部分。

Israeli [iz5reili] n. 以色列人

U.S.-sponsored  adj. 由美国支持的

road map “中东和平路线图计划”

coincide with  v. 与……相符

Israel [5izreiEl] n.［国名］以色列，处地中海西海岸

Jewish [5dVu(:)iF] adj. 犹太人的，犹太族的

West Bank （约旦的）西岸地区

1 ranch   

n.大牧场，大农场

参考例句：

• He went to work on a ranch.他去一个大农场干活。
• The ranch is in the middle of a large plateau.该牧场位于一个辽阔高原的中部。

2 lasting   

adj.永久的，永恒的；vbl.持续，维持

参考例句：

• The lasting war debased the value of the dollar.持久的战争使美元贬值。
• We hope for a lasting settlement of all these troubles.我们希望这些纠纷能获得永久的解决。

3 withdrawal   

n.取回，提款；撤退，撤军；收回，撤销

参考例句：

• The police were forced to make a tactical withdrawal.警方被迫进行战术撤退。
• They insisted upon a withdrawal of the statement and a public apology.他们坚持要收回那些话并公开道歉。

4 realization   

n.实现；认识到，深刻了解

参考例句：

• We shall gladly lend every effort in our power toward its realization.我们将乐意为它的实现而竭尽全力。
• He came to the realization that he would never make a good teacher.他逐渐认识到自己永远不会成为好老师。