Sharon Pushes Gaza Withdrawal Plan, Threatens to Fire Opposi

 

Ross Dunn

Israeli prime minister, Ariel Sharon, threatened Sunday to fire some of his cabinet ministers in order to win a majority for his disengagement plan from Palestinian areas. Mr. Sharon issued the warning after presenting a revised version of his plan to withdraw from the Gaza Strip and parts of the West Bank.
Mr. Sharon opened Sunday's cabinet debate with a tough message to those ministers who are refusing to grant him the majority he needs to approve his disengagement plan.
He says that he is determined¹ to take what he call unprecedented² political steps, including changing the make-up of the government in order to have the plan passed.
Mr. Sharon's warning came after four ministers of his own Likud Party, including finance minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated earlier in the week they are not in favor of the prime minister's proposals.
Mr. Netanyahu and the other three ministers say they cannot give their support after the Likud faction³ overwhelming rejected Mr. Sharon's vision at a referendum of the party, earlier this month.
Their opposition⁴ has left the prime minister with only 11 ministers in support of his plan, while the remaining 12 oppose the initiative.
Mr. Netanyahu's objections to the plan drew public criticism from Mr. Sharon who accused the finance minister of putting his ambitions to take over the leadership ahead of the wishes of the majority of Israelis.
Mr. Netanyahu rejected the claims, saying it is Mr. Sharon who is refusing to compromise over the issue and maintain unity⁵ within the Government.
The finance minister says that Mr. Sharon has not altered any of the essential elements of his original plan to withdraw troops and dismantle⁶ Jewish settlements in the Gaza Strip and parts of the West Bank.
Mr. Sharon's modified plan presented to the cabinet on Sunday proposes the disengagement be carried out in four stages and each phase would have to be approved by the cabinet.
The prime minister is expected to ask his cabinet to vote on the issue, early next month.
注释：
Ariel Sharon　阿里埃勒·沙龙（以色列总理）
disengagement [5disin5^eidVmEnt] n. 脱离
Gaza Strip 加沙地带
West Bank 西海岸
unprecedented [Qn5presidEntid] adj. 空前的
make-up [5meikQp] n. 组成
Likud Party n. 利库德集团（以色列右翼党派的政治联盟）
in favor of 赞同
faction [5fAkFEn] n. 派别，小集团
referendum [7refE5rendEm] n. 投票
compromise [5kCmprEmaiz] v. 妥协，折衷
alter [5C:ltE] v. 改变
dismantle [dis5mAntl] v. 拆除
propose [prE5pEuz] vt. 建议

1 determined   

adj.坚定的；有决心的

参考例句：

• I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。
• He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。

2 unprecedented   

adj.无前例的，新奇的

参考例句：

• The air crash caused an unprecedented number of deaths.这次空难的死亡人数是空前的。
• A flood of this sort is really unprecedented.这样大的洪水真是十年九不遇。

3 faction   

n.宗派，小集团；派别；派系斗争

参考例句：

• Faction and self-interest appear to be the norm.派系之争和自私自利看来非常普遍。
• I now understood clearly that I was caught between the king and the Bunam's faction.我现在完全明白自己已陷入困境，在国王与布纳姆集团之间左右为难。

4 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

5 unity   

n.团结，联合，统一；和睦，协调

参考例句：

• When we speak of unity,we do not mean unprincipled peace.所谓团结，并非一团和气。
• We must strengthen our unity in the face of powerful enemies.大敌当前，我们必须加强团结。

6 dismantle   

vt.拆开，拆卸；废除，取消

参考例句：

• He asked for immediate help from the United States to dismantle the warheads.他请求美国立即提供援助，拆除这批弹头。
• The mower firmly refused to mow,so I decided to dismantle it.修完后割草机还是纹丝不动，于是，我决定把它拆开。