2007年VOA标准英语-Israel Says Saudi Plan Could Revive Peace Proce

By Robert Berger
Jerusalem
13 March 2007

Israel is signaling a new willingness to open peace talks on the basis of a Saudi Arabian initiative first proposed five years ago. But as Robert Berger reports from VOA's Jerusalem bureau, Israel sees the plan as a starting point, while the Arabs see it as the end game.

In a political turnaround, Israeli officials say the Saudi Arabian peace initiative of 2002 can be an important step toward reviving the peace process.

Shimon Peres speaks during a news conference at Japan National Press Club in Tokyo, 13 March 2007

"As an Arab position, it is progress, and we would like to continue and negotiate," said Deputy Prime Minister Shimon Peres. "But this is the opening position."

The Saudi initiative calls for a full Israeli withdrawal¹ to the 1967 borders and the establishment of a Palestinian state in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. In exchange, Israel would receive full diplomatic recognition from the Arab world.

Israel rejected the plan five years ago because it would require the Jewish state to relinquish² Jerusalem's sacred Old City as well as all the settlements it has built in the West Bank since the Six Day War in 1967.

Israel says it will never give up Jerusalem or dismantle³ all settlements. But since direct talks with the Palestinians are going nowhere and in light of the growing regional influence of Iran, Israel wants to open a dialogue with moderate Arab countries. Those countries are also concerned about Iran's support for radical⁴ elements in the region, so there is a mutual⁵ interest in reviving the peace process.

Nevertheless, the right-wing opposition⁶ in Israel deeply opposes the plan.

"The Saudi initiative, or the Arab peace initiative, in its present form is a recipe for the destruction of Israel," says Zalman Shoval of the hawkish⁷ Likud Party. He says the 1967 borders are indefensible.

"Israel cannot accept the matter of returning to the Green Line, the 4th of June 1967 border, as a precondition," he says.

The Saudi initiative is quickly rising to the top of the diplomatic agenda in the Middle East. Arab leaders are expected to formally revive the plan at a summit in Saudi Arabia at the end of the month.

1 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。

2 relinquish   

v.放弃，撤回，让与，放手

参考例句：

• He was forced to relinquish control of the company.他被迫放弃公司的掌控权。
• They will never voluntarily relinquish their independence.他们绝对不会自动放弃独立。

3 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。

4 radical   

n.激进份子，原子团，根号；adj.根本的，激进的，彻底的

参考例句：

• The patient got a radical cure in the hospital.病人在医院得到了根治。
• She is radical in her demands.她的要求十分偏激。

5 mutual   

adj.相互的，彼此的；共同的，共有的

参考例句：

• We must pull together for mutual interest.我们必须为相互的利益而通力合作。
• Mutual interests tied us together.相互的利害关系把我们联系在一起。

6 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。

7 hawkish   

adj. 鹰派的, 强硬派的

参考例句：

• My staff's advice that first day was amazingly hawkish. 在第一天，我的僚属们的意见是令人吃惊的鹰派意见。
• Antiwar groups fear Barack Obama may create hawkish Cabinet. 反战团体担心巴拉克·奥巴马可以创建强硬派内阁。