2007年VOA标准英语-Norway Eases Diplomatic Boycott of Palestinian

By Robert Berger
Jerusalem
19 March 2007

A senior Norwegian official has met with the leader of the ruling Palestinian militant² group Hamas, easing a diplomatic boycott⁴. The meeting followed the formation of a Palestinian national unity⁵ government, and as Hamas launched its first attack against Israel since a cease-fire went into effect four months ago in the Gaza Strip. Robert Berger reports from the VOA bureau in Jerusalem.

 
Ismail Haniyeh from Hamas (r) shakes hands with Norway's Deputy Foreign Minister Raymond Johansen prior to their meeting in Gaza City, 19 Mar¹ 2007
Norway's deputy foreign minister, Raymond Johansen, met in Gaza with Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh of Hamas. The meeting was the first between Haniyeh and a senior European diplomat³ since Western powers imposed crippling economic sanctions on Hamas a year ago.

The United States and European Union consider Hamas a terrorist organization, but Norway is not a member of the European Union. Norway decided⁶ to restore diplomatic ties with the Palestinian Authority after Hamas formed a national unity government with the rival and more moderate Fatah faction⁷.

Johansen spoke⁸ to reporters after the meeting.

"Well, we have had a very good meeting, where I very clearly stated support to this unity government from the Norwegian government," he said. "We see this as a very broad-based Palestinian government that deserves the support from the international community."

 
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas (l) and Prime Minister Ismail Haniyah from Hamas, at a special session of parliament in Gaza City, 17 Mar 2007
Israel is boycotting⁹ the new Palestinian government because it rejects two key international demands for lifting sanctions, namely, renunciation of violence and recognition of the Jewish state.

In its first attack since the new government assumed power on Saturday, Hamas claimed responsibility for a sniper shooting that wounded an Israeli civilian¹⁰ near a border crossing in the Gaza Strip.

Israeli spokeswoman Miri Eisen says that reinforces Israel's position.

"This is a direct result of the guidelines of this government." said Miri Eisen. "We will not recognize or deal with a government that openly supports terror."

Israel is also urging the international community to boycott the new government. Eisen says she believes Norway is the exception and not the rule.

"Norway's done one thing; the rest of the world is doing something else. We have heard very clearly all of the different international voices talking about the fact that this new government must accept first and foremost the clear renunciation of terror," she said.

Nevertheless, Russia and France are calling for sanctions on the Palestinian Authority to be lifted and the Palestinians are launching a diplomatic blitz in Europe to encourage other nations to follow suit.

1 mar   

vt.破坏，毁坏，弄糟

参考例句：

• It was not the custom for elderly people to mar the picnics with their presence.大人们照例不参加这样的野餐以免扫兴。
• Such a marriage might mar your career.这样的婚姻说不定会毁了你的一生。

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 diplomat   

n.外交官，外交家；能交际的人，圆滑的人

参考例句：

• The diplomat threw in a joke, and the tension was instantly relieved.那位外交官插进一个笑话，紧张的气氛顿时缓和下来。
• He served as a diplomat in Russia before the war.战前他在俄罗斯当外交官。

4 boycott   

n./v.(联合)抵制，拒绝参与

参考例句：

• We put the production under a boycott.我们联合抵制该商品。
• The boycott lasts a year until the Victoria board permitsreturn.这个抗争持续了一年直到维多利亚教育局妥协为止。

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 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

7 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。

8 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

9 boycotting   

抵制，拒绝参加( boycott的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• They're boycotting the shop because the people there are on strike. 他们抵制那家商店，因为那里的店员在罢工。
• The main opposition parties are boycotting the elections. 主要反对党都抵制此次选举。

10 civilian   

adj.平民的，民用的，民众的

参考例句：

• There is no reliable information about civilian casualties.关于平民的伤亡还没有确凿的信息。
• He resigned his commission to take up a civilian job.他辞去军职而从事平民工作。