2006年VOA标准英语-US Will Continue Humanitarian Aid to Pales

By Robert Berger
Jerusalem
25 February 2006 

 
David Welch, left, arrives for meeting with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas
  
A senior U.S. official says the United States will continue giving humanitarian¹ aid to the Palestinians, despite the victory of the Islamic militant² group Hamas in Palestinian parliamentary elections a month ago. The official is visiting the Palestinian territories and Israel.

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Assistant Secretary of State David Welch says the U.S. will continue to give humanitarian aid to ease the plight³ of the Palestinians, despite the Hamas victory. He said the aid would bypass a Hamas-led Palestinian Authority, and be given to humanitarian organizations.

He was speaking in the West Bank town of Ramallah, after meeting with Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas. Welch indicated that the aid is aimed at strengthening Mr. Abbas and his moderate policies.

"I reaffirmed our confidence in the program that he laid out, where he  called for a negotiated two state solution to the crisis that has divided Israelis and Palestinians for so long, where he reaffirmed his support for approaching negotiations⁴ in a context free of violence and  terror," said Mr. Welch.

Hamas has carried out dozens of suicide bombings that have killed hundreds of Israelis. That prompted U.S. threats to cut off funds to a Hamas-led Palestinian Authority on grounds that it is illegal under American law to give money to a terrorist organization.

But there were concerns that starving the impoverished⁵ Palestinian people of funds would lead to instability and more violence and terror. So giving money to humanitarian organizations offers a compromise.

Israel has cut off $50 million in monthly tax payments to the Palestinian Authority, but it too is seeking ways to provide humanitarian aid to the Palestinian people.

Israeli hawks⁶ accuse the U.S. and Israeli governments of sending the wrong message. They say that any aid to the Palestinians will only encourage Hamas to maintain its hard-line positions.

So far, Hamas hasn't budged⁷ on key international demands. It refuses to recognize Israel and renounce⁸ violence, and it still seeks the destruction of the Jewish state.

1 humanitarian   

n.人道主义者，博爱者，基督凡人论者

参考例句：

• She has many humanitarian interests and contributes a lot to them.她拥有很多慈善事业，并作了很大的贡献。
• The British government has now suspended humanitarian aid to the area.英国政府现已暂停对这一地区的人道主义援助。

2 militant   

adj.激进的，好斗的；n.激进分子，斗士

参考例句：

• Some militant leaders want to merge with white radicals.一些好斗的领导人要和白人中的激进派联合。
• He is a militant in the movement.他在那次运动中是个激进人物。

3 plight   

n.困境，境况，誓约，艰难；vt.宣誓，保证，约定

参考例句：

• The leader was much concerned over the plight of the refugees.那位领袖对难民的困境很担忧。
• She was in a most helpless plight.她真不知如何是好。

4 negotiations   

协商( negotiation的名词复数 )； 谈判； 完成（难事）； 通过

参考例句：

• negotiations for a durable peace 为持久和平而进行的谈判
• Negotiations have failed to establish any middle ground. 谈判未能达成任何妥协。

5 impoverished   

adj.穷困的，无力的，用尽了的v.使（某人）贫穷( impoverish的过去式和过去分词 )；使（某物）贫瘠或恶化

参考例句：

• the impoverished areas of the city 这个城市的贫民区
• They were impoverished by a prolonged spell of unemployment. 他们因长期失业而一贫如洗。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 hawks   

鹰( hawk的名词复数 )； 鹰派人物，主战派人物

参考例句：

• Two hawks were hover ing overhead. 两只鹰在头顶盘旋。
• Both hawks and doves have expanded their conditions for ending the war. 鹰派和鸽派都充分阐明了各自的停战条件。

7 budged   

v.（使）稍微移动( budge的过去式和过去分词 )；（使）改变主意，（使）让步

参考例句：

• Old Bosc had never budged an inch--he was totally indifferent. 老包斯克一直连动也没有动，他全然无所谓。 来自辞典例句
• Nobody budged you an inch. 别人一丁点儿都算计不了你。 来自辞典例句

8 renounce   

v.放弃；拒绝承认，宣布与…断绝关系

参考例句：

• She decided to renounce the world and enter a convent.她决定弃绝尘世去当修女。
• It was painful for him to renounce his son.宣布与儿子脱离关系对他来说是很痛苦的。