VOA标准英语2008年-Rice: Israeli Settlements Have 'Negative Effect

By Robert Berger
Jerusalem
15 June 2008

America's top diplomat¹ is in the Middle East trying to get the peace process back on track. Robert Berger reports from the VOA bureau in Jerusalem.
　

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, right, meets US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice in the West Bank city of Ramallah, 15 Jun 2008

Israeli settlement expansion topped the agenda as Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice met separately with Israeli and Palestinian leaders. Rice used exceptionally harsh language to condemn² Israel's announcement on Friday that it plans to build 1,300 new homes in disputed East Jerusalem, on land the Palestinians claim for their future capital.

"I do believe and the United States believes that the actions and the announcements that are taking place are indeed having a negative effect on the atmosphere for negotiation," said Condoleezza Rice. "And that is not what we want. We should be in a position of encouraging confidence, not undermining it."

Rice spoke³ at a news conference with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in the West Bank town of Ramallah.

"We believe that settlement is the highest hurdle⁴ on the road of our political endeavors," said Mahmoud Abbas. "With the continued expansion and building of settlements the more tough the hurdle would become."

Israel says it has the right to build anywhere in Jerusalem because it will remain the capital of the Jewish state in any final peace agreement.

Despite the obstacles, Rice said both sides remain committed to the peace process.

"We are all devoted⁵ to and believe that it is possible to establish the agreement between the Palestinians and the Israelis for the establishment of a Palestinian state by the end of the year," said Mahmoud Abbas.

But that goal is in doubt because in addition to the settlements, gaps are wide on core issues like Palestinian refugees and the status of Jerusalem.

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert is also embroiled⁶ in a corruption⁷ scandal that could force him to step down. In the meantime, Mr. Olmert is widely seen as too weak to close a peace deal involving major territorial⁸ concessions⁹ to the Palestinians.

1 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。

2 condemn   

vt.谴责，指责；宣判(罪犯)，判刑

参考例句：

• Some praise him,whereas others condemn him.有些人赞扬他，而有些人谴责他。
• We mustn't condemn him on mere suppositions.我们不可全凭臆测来指责他。

3 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。

4 hurdle   

n.跳栏，栏架；障碍，困难；vi.进行跨栏赛

参考例句：

• The weather will be the biggest hurdle so I have to be ready.天气将会是最大的障碍，所以我必须要作好准备。
• She clocked 11.6 seconds for the 80 metre hurdle.八十米跳栏赛跑她跑了十一秒六。

5 devoted   

adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的

参考例句：

• He devoted his life to the educational cause of the motherland.他为祖国的教育事业贡献了一生。
• We devoted a lengthy and full discussion to this topic.我们对这个题目进行了长时间的充分讨论。

6 embroiled   

adj.卷入的；纠缠不清的

参考例句：

• He became embroiled in a dispute with his neighbours. 他与邻居们发生了争执。
• John and Peter were quarrelling, but Mary refused to get embroiled. 约翰和彼得在争吵，但玛丽不愿卷入。 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 corruption   

n.腐败，堕落，贪污

参考例句：

• The people asked the government to hit out against corruption and theft.人民要求政府严惩贪污盗窃。
• The old man reviled against corruption.那老人痛斥了贪污舞弊。

8 territorial   

adj.领土的，领地的

参考例句：

• The country is fighting to preserve its territorial integrity.该国在为保持领土的完整而进行斗争。
• They were not allowed to fish in our territorial waters.不允许他们在我国领海捕鱼。

9 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。