VOA标准英语2010-Netanyahu: Israel Must Rely Only on Itsel

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivers a speech during a memorial ceremony for fallen soldiers at the Ammunition¹ Hill, a site of a bloody² Jerusalem battle in the 1967 war, 18 Apr 2010

On the eve of Israel's 62nd Independence Day, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the nation must not rely on the help of foreigners.  He was quoting from the founder³ of modern Zionism, Theodor Herzl.

 

Mr. Netanyahu told the Cabinet that according to Herzl, Israel can rely only on itself.

Commentators⁴ say it is a clear reference to Israeli ties with the United States, which have plummeted⁵ over Jewish construction in disputed in East Jerusalem.  The U.S. backs Palestinian demands that East Jerusalem should be the capital of a future Palestinian state.

But Israel sees all of Jerusalem as its eternal capital, and Mr. Netanyahu, who heads a right-wing government, has rejected U.S. demands to stop building there.  As a result, the Palestinians have refused to return to U.S.-sponsored peace talks, and the diplomatic process has been deadlocked⁶ for 15 months.

Defense⁷ Minister Ehud Barak took a softer approach.

Barak said Israel would not make any compromises when it comes to the security of the state.  But he said it would show courage in the struggle for peace with the Palestinians based on the two-state solution.

Independence Day begins at sundown on Monday amid tight security.  Fearing terrorist attacks, Israel has sealed off the West Bank, barring Palestinians from entering the country.

 

1 ammunition   

n.军火，弹药

参考例句：

• A few of the jeeps had run out of ammunition.几辆吉普车上的弹药已经用光了。
• They have expended all their ammunition.他们把弹药用光。

2 bloody   

adj.非常的的；流血的；残忍的；adv.很；vt.血染

参考例句：

• He got a bloody nose in the fight.他在打斗中被打得鼻子流血。
• He is a bloody fool.他是一个十足的笨蛋。

3 Founder   

n.创始者，缔造者

参考例句：

• He was extolled as the founder of their Florentine school.他被称颂为佛罗伦萨画派的鼻祖。
• According to the old tradition,Romulus was the founder of Rome.按照古老的传说，罗穆卢斯是古罗马的建国者。

4 commentators   

n.评论员( commentator的名词复数 )；时事评论员；注释者；实况广播员

参考例句：

• Sports commentators repeat the same phrases ad nauseam. 体育解说员翻来覆去说着同样的词语，真叫人腻烦。
• Television sports commentators repeat the same phrases ad nauseam. 电视体育解说员说来说去就是那么几句话，令人厌烦。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 plummeted   

v.垂直落下，骤然跌落( plummet的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• Share prices plummeted to an all-time low. 股票价格暴跌到历史最低点。
• A plane plummeted to earth. 一架飞机一头栽向地面。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 deadlocked   

陷入僵局的；僵持不下的

参考例句：

• The plan deadlocked over the funds. 这个计划由于经费问题而搁浅了。
• The meeting deadlocked over the wage issue. 会议因工资问题而停顿下来。

7 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。