VOA标准英语2008年-Israeli Foreign Minister Begins Formation of Ne

Negotiations¹ are underway in Israel to form a new government after the prime minister resigned. Robert Berger reports from the VOA bureau in Jerusalem.
　
Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni speaks to media after winning elections in Tel Aviv, 18 Sep 2008

Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni is holding consultations² with various political parties as she begins the task of trying to form a new government. She has 42 days to do so. The process of forming a coalition³ began after Prime Minister Ehud Olmert submitted his resignation Sunday following a corruption⁴ scandal.

Livni was elected leader of the ruling Kadima party last week. Yohanan Plessner, who headed her election campaign, says she has a good chance to succeed.

"She is competent and she can bring across or deliver to the Israeli public and Israeli politics a new message of hope of a different kind of political conduct, which puts her in quite a good position to form a new government based on national interest considerations," Plessner said.

The biggest obstacle in Livni's path is the ultra-Orthodox Shas party, a key partner in the current coalition. Shas opposes Livni's plan to hand over parts of Jerusalem to the Palestinians under an emerging peace agreement.

"There seem to be differences of opinion with her prospective⁵ coalition partners on foreign policy, on the Palestinian issue, mainly on Jerusalem, so it is not going to be an easy job for her," said Zalman Shoval, who is with the opposition⁶ Likud party. "I think we will have early elections."

If Livni fails to form a government there will be early elections next year - probably in March.

 

1 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。

2 consultations   

n.磋商（会议）( consultation的名词复数 )；商讨会；协商会；查找

参考例句：

• Consultations can be arranged at other times by appointment. 磋商可以通过预约安排在其他时间。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• Consultations are under way. 正在进行磋商。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

3 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。

4 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。

5 prospective   

adj.预期的，未来的，前瞻性的

参考例句：

• The story should act as a warning to other prospective buyers.这篇报道应该对其他潜在的购买者起到警示作用。
• They have all these great activities for prospective freshmen.这会举办各种各样的活动来招待未来的新人。

6 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。