VOA标准英语2008年-Israel Plans Settlement Expansion in Disputed E

By Robert Berger
Jerusalem
01 June 2008

The Middle East peace process is facing a new obstacle: further Israeli settlement expansion in the West Bank. Robert Berger reports from the VOA bureau in Jerusalem.
　

Olive trees are seen back-dropped by the Jewish settlement of Har Homa in East Jerusalem, 31 Mar1 2008

Israel has announced plans to build nearly 900 new homes in disputed East Jerusalem, on West Bank land the Palestinians claim for a future state. The Housing Ministry² says 763 apartments will be built in the settlement of Pisgat Ze'ev and 121 in Har Homa.

The decision, which is one of many on settlement construction during the past few months, throws a wrench³ into peace talks sponsored by the United States. Both the United States and the Palestinians say settlement expansion violates the "Roadmap" peace plan on which negotiations⁴ are based.

But Israel says East Jerusalem will remain a part of the Jewish state in any final peace agreement and it will continue to build there.

"You know we, of course, respect the Americans and we always want to work in cooperation with them, but when it comes to Jerusalem it is our decision where to build and when to build," said Israeli spokesman Arieh Mekel.


Palestinian spokesman Nabil Abu Redeineh urged the United States to pressure Israel to halt settlement activity, saying it is eroding⁵ Palestinian support for the peace process.

"All settlements are illegal according to the Roadmap and according to the international legality," he said.

The Israeli decision is casting further doubt on the U.S. goal of reaching a final peace agreement by the end of the year.

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 ministry   

n.(政府的)部；牧师

参考例句：

• They sent a deputation to the ministry to complain.他们派了一个代表团到部里投诉。
• We probed the Air Ministry statements.我们调查了空军部的记录。

3 wrench   

v.猛拧；挣脱；使扭伤；n.扳手；痛苦，难受

参考例句：

• He gave a wrench to his ankle when he jumped down.他跳下去的时候扭伤了足踝。
• It was a wrench to leave the old home.离开这个老家非常痛苦。

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 eroding   

侵蚀，腐蚀( erode的现在分词 )； 逐渐毁坏，削弱，损害

参考例句：

• The coast is slowly eroding. 海岸正慢慢地被侵蚀。
• Another new development is eroding the age-old stereotype of the male warrior. 另一个新现象是，久已形成的男人皆武士的形象正逐渐消失。