VOA常速英语2007-Palestinian Negotiator Reports Progress in Talks

By Robert Berger
Jarusalem
12 October 2007

A senior Palestinian official says there is serious progress in new peace talks with Israel. But as Robert Berger reports from VOA's Jerusalem bureau, the Islamic militant¹ group Hamas could sabotage² the process.

Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat says his side is close to an agreement with Israel on a document on Palestinian statehood. The document would be presented at an international peace conference in the United States this year.

At the same time, he said it is not a done deal.

"And nothing will be agreed until everything is agreed," said Erekat.

Interviewed on Israel's Channel 10 television, Erekat said that western-backed Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert have narrowed the gaps in a series of meetings. But he said President Bush should not convene³ the peace conference unless there is an agreement in advance.

"I really doubt the Americans will issue the invitation if decisions are not made by President Abbas and Prime Minister Olmert," said Erekat.

Palestinian President Abbas is from the more moderate Fatah group that heads a government in the West Bank.

The negotiations⁴ have brought a stern warning from the Islamic militant group Hamas, which rules the Gaza Strip. Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh warned Mr. Abbas not to "fall into a trap" and make concessions⁵ on Jerusalem, Palestinian refugees or territory.

Hamas, which refuses to recognize Israel or renounce⁶ violence, routed the Fatah forces led by Mr. Abbas in a Gaza civil war four months ago.

Israel has sought to strengthen Mr. Abbas while isolating⁷ Hamas. But Israeli spokesman Mark Regev fears Hamas could launch a new wave of terror as negotiations move forward.

"No one has any illusions that Hamas will do whatever it can to torpedo⁸ this process of reconciliation⁹ between us and the Palestinians," said Regev.

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice hopes to give peace talks a boost when she arrives here this weekend for a new round of shuttle diplomacy¹⁰.

1 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。

2 sabotage   

n.怠工，破坏活动，破坏；v.从事破坏活动，妨害，破坏

参考例句：

• They tried to sabotage my birthday party.他们企图破坏我的生日晚会。
• The fire at the factory was caused by sabotage.那家工厂的火灾是有人蓄意破坏引起的。

3 convene   

v.集合，召集，召唤，聚集，集合

参考例句：

• The Diet will convene at 3p.m. tomorrow.国会将于明天下午三点钟开会。
• Senior officials convened in October 1991 in London.1991年10月，高级官员在伦敦会齐。

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 concessions   

n.（尤指由政府或雇主给予的）特许权( concession的名词复数 )；承认；减价；（在某地的）特许经营权

参考例句：

• The firm will be forced to make concessions if it wants to avoid a strike. 要想避免罢工，公司将不得不作出一些让步。
• The concessions did little to placate the students. 让步根本未能平息学生的愤怒。

6 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。

7 isolating   

adj.孤立的，绝缘的v.使隔离( isolate的现在分词 )；将…剔出（以便看清和单独处理）；使（某物质、细胞等）分离；使离析

参考例句：

• Colour filters are not very effective in isolating narrow spectral bands. 一些滤色片不能很有效地分离狭窄的光谱带。 来自辞典例句
• This became known as the streak method for isolating bacteria. 这个方法以后就称为分离细菌的划线法。 来自辞典例句

8 torpedo   

n.水雷，地雷；v.用鱼雷破坏

参考例句：

• His ship was blown up by a torpedo.他的船被一枚鱼雷炸毁了。
• Torpedo boats played an important role during World War Two.鱼雷艇在第二次世界大战中发挥了重要作用。

9 reconciliation   

n.和解，和谐，一致

参考例句：

• He was taken up with the reconciliation of husband and wife.他忙于做夫妻间的调解工作。
• Their handshake appeared to be a gesture of reconciliation.他们的握手似乎是和解的表示。

10 diplomacy   

n.外交；外交手腕，交际手腕

参考例句：

• The talks have now gone into a stage of quiet diplomacy.会谈现在已经进入了“温和外交”阶段。
• This was done through the skill in diplomacy. 这是通过外交手腕才做到的。