2007年VOA标准英语-Tension Overshadows Ramadan Prayers in Jerusale

By Robert Berger
Jerusalem
14 September 2007

In Israel, tension overshadowed the first Friday prayers for Ramadan, the Muslim holy month of fasting.  As Robert Berger reports from VOA's Jerusalem bureau, the focal point of the latest tensions was the Al Aksa Mosque¹.

Dome2 of Rock Mosque during first Friday prayers of holy fasting month of Ramadan in the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem, 14 Sept. 2007" hspace="2" src="http://www.wwenglish.com/up06/2007/09/20553/9.jpg" width="210" vspace="2" border="0" />

Palestinian female Muslim worshippers pray outside Dome of Rock Mosque during first Friday prayers of holy fasting month of Ramadan in the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem, 14 Sept. 2007

Hundreds of Israeli police and soldiers patrolled the narrow alleyways of Jerusalem's Old City, as Palestinians gathered for Ramadan prayers at the Al Aksa Mosque, a site that Jews call the Temple Mount because two biblical Temples were located there. As the holiest place in Judaism and third holiest in Islam, it is frequently a flashpoint in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.  

Fearing Palestinian unrest, all Muslim men under the age of 45, and women under 35, were barred from entering the compound.

Israeli troops also deployed³ at two major West Bank checkpoints, near Palestinian-ruled Bethlehem in the south and Ramallah in the north. Hundreds of Palestinians gathered there hoping to get to the mosque in Jerusalem.

Scuffles broke out when most were turned back by soldiers.

One of the Palestinians, Mustafa Habib, told VOA that Israel is violating freedom of worship.

"We want the Israelis, you know, to ease the situation, relax the measures and the restrictions⁴ against our people, give us a break," he said.

Israel says the restrictions are necessary to stop suicide bombers⁵ from entering the country and prevent Palestinian riots at the Al Aksa Mosque.

In the end, about 40,000 Palestinians entered the Mosque of Al Aksa, a quarter of the usual number for Friday prayers during Ramadan. The prayers passed quietly.

1 mosque   

n.清真寺

参考例句：

• The mosque is a activity site and culture center of Muslim religion.清真寺为穆斯林宗教活动场所和文化中心。
• Some years ago the clock in the tower of the mosque got out of order.几年前，清真寺钟楼里的大钟失灵了。

2 dome   

n.圆屋顶，拱顶

参考例句：

• The dome was supported by white marble columns.圆顶由白色大理石柱支撑着。
• They formed the dome with the tree's branches.他们用树枝搭成圆屋顶。

3 deployed   

（尤指军事行动）使展开( deploy的过去式和过去分词 )； 施展； 部署； 有效地利用

参考例句：

• Tanks have been deployed all along the front line. 沿整个前线已部署了坦克。
• The artillery was deployed to bear on the fort. 火炮是对着那个碉堡部署的。

4 restrictions   

约束( restriction的名词复数 )； 管制； 制约因素； 带限制性的条件（或规则）

参考例句：

• I found the restrictions irksome. 我对那些限制感到很烦。
• a snaggle of restrictions 杂乱无章的种种限制

5 bombers   

n.轰炸机( bomber的名词复数 )；投弹手；安非他明胶囊；大麻叶香烟

参考例句：

• Enemy bombers carried out a blitz on the city. 敌军轰炸机对这座城市进行了突袭。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The Royal Airforce sill remained dangerously short of bombers. 英国皇家空军仍未脱离极为缺乏轰炸机的危境。 来自《简明英汉词典》