VOA标准英语2008年-Livni Wins Israeli Election by Narrow Margin

Israel's Foreign Minister, Tzipi Livni, has won a narrow victory in the ruling centrist Kadima party's primary election, putting her on track to become Israel's first female Prime Minister in more than three decades. Ms. Livni will replace Ehud Olmert, who is stepping down as he faces corruption¹ investigations². VOA's Jerusalem correspondent Luis Ramirez reports.
　
Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni speaks to media after winning elections in Tel Aviv, 18 Sep 2008

Livni's election is raising hopes among some here who believe her willingness to pursue peace negotiations³ is the last hope for an agreement with the Palestinians.

The former intelligence operative, lawyer, and mother of two sons, is Israel's top negotiator in the current round of U.S. brokered⁴ peace talks. As a moderate, she won support from those in the party who want a negotiated settlement. At the same time, she won favor among some on the right for saying she will not hesitate to use military action if necessary.

Talks have been stuck on old issues including the status of Jerusalem, the Palestinians' claim to a right of return to lands seized by Israel, and Jewish settlements.

Analysts⁵ say Israel's ability to negotiate has been undermined by the turmoil⁶ in its internal politics.

In her acceptance remarks Thursday, Livni indicated she will waste no time putting a new government in place.

Livni says the mission now is to create stability in the government to confront security threats, to take advantage of opportunities for peace and to deal with economic instability.

The centrist Kadima Party must work to regain⁷ the trust of Israeli voters at large. Confidence has been damaged by the corruption allegations against Mr. Olmert, lack of progress in the peace talks, and other issues.

Some Palestinians welcomed Livni's election on Thursday. Mahdi Abdul Hadi, head of the Palestinian Academic Society for the Study of International Affairs, a research organization in Jerusalem, tells VOA Livni's experience in dealing⁸ with Arabs is viewed by some Palestinians as a sign of hope for the peace process.

"She has been very much acquainted with the details of the whole issue and she comes across that a new chapter in the vision of leaders among Israelis," he said. "She has been received warmly in the Gulf⁹ and she has been recognized as a new face, a new leader, a new image for Israel in the region. How fast she can contain and maintain that presence and contact, and build up on it, has yet to be seen."

Analysts say galvanizing support among Israelis will not be easy for Livni, who has to strike a balance between improving relations with Arabs and keeping right-wingers at home happy.

Late Wednesday, exit polls had shown her winning by a large margin¹⁰. Official results on Thursday narrowed that victory to a few hundred votes, something analysts say indicates her party will likely face a strong challenge if it has to face the increasingly popular, right-wing Likud party led by former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the coming months.

Livni has only a few weeks to put together a governing coalition¹¹ or the country will be forced to hold early general elections.

 

1 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。

2 investigations   

（正式的）调查( investigation的名词复数 )； 侦查； 科学研究； 学术研究

参考例句：

• His investigations were intensive and thorough but revealed nothing. 他进行了深入彻底的调查，但没有发现什么。
• He often sent them out to make investigations. 他常常派他们出去作调查。

3 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。

4 brokered   

adj.由权力经纪人安排（或控制）的v.做掮客（或中人等）( broker的过去式和过去分词 )；作为权力经纪人进行谈判；以中间人等身份安排…

参考例句：

• a peace plan brokered by the UN 由联合国出面协商的和平计划
• Your husband brokered the deal to go in, transfrer the assets and get our man out. 你丈夫后来插了一脚，把生意都抢了过去，我们的人也被挤了出来。 来自电影对白

5 analysts   

分析家，化验员( analyst的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• City analysts forecast huge profits this year. 伦敦金融分析家预测今年的利润非常丰厚。
• I was impressed by the high calibre of the researchers and analysts. 研究人员和分析人员的高素质给我留下了深刻印象。

6 turmoil   

n.骚乱，混乱，动乱

参考例句：

• His mind was in such a turmoil that he couldn't get to sleep.内心的纷扰使他无法入睡。
• The robbery put the village in a turmoil.抢劫使全村陷入混乱。

7 regain   

vt.重新获得，收复，恢复

参考例句：

• He is making a bid to regain his World No.1 ranking.他正为重登世界排名第一位而努力。
• The government is desperate to regain credibility with the public.政府急于重新获取公众的信任。

8 dealing   

n.经商方法，待人态度

参考例句：

• This store has an excellent reputation for fair dealing.该商店因买卖公道而享有极高的声誉。
• His fair dealing earned our confidence.他的诚实的行为获得我们的信任。

9 gulf   

n.海湾；深渊，鸿沟；分歧，隔阂

参考例句：

• The gulf between the two leaders cannot be bridged.两位领导人之间的鸿沟难以跨越。
• There is a gulf between the two cities.这两座城市间有个海湾。

10 margin   

n.页边空白；差额；余地，余裕；边，边缘

参考例句：

• We allowed a margin of 20 minutes in catching the train.我们有20分钟的余地赶火车。
• The village is situated at the margin of a forest.村子位于森林的边缘。

11 coalition   

n.结合体，同盟，结合，联合

参考例句：

• The several parties formed a coalition.这几个政党组成了政治联盟。
• Coalition forces take great care to avoid civilian casualties.联盟军队竭尽全力避免造成平民伤亡。