VOA标准英语2010-Israel Said to Be Curbing East Jerusalem

Ultra-orthodox Jewish boy climbs on timber beams at a construction site in the east Jerusalem neighborhood of Ramat Shlomo, 26 Apr 2010

Israel could be making a concession¹ aimed at breaking the deadlock² in the Middle East peace process.

Officials in the Jerusalem Municipality say Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has quietly frozen new Israeli construction in the disputed eastern half of the city. 

No new building projects have been approved in seven weeks, since Israel angered the United States by announcing plans to expand a Jewish neighborhood in East Jerusalem. The announcement scuttled³ an agreement for new Israeli-Palestinian peace talks and sparked a deep crisis in U.S.-Israel relations.

The United States backs the Palestinian demand that East Jerusalem should be the capital of a future Palestinian state.  But Israel sees East Jerusalem as part of its capital and Mr. Netanyahu has said Israel will not stop building there.

Publicly, Mr. Netanyahu must appease⁴ his coalition⁵ partners who oppose any curbs⁶ on construction in Jerusalem.  But privately⁷, he is trying to mend fences with Washington and pull the Palestinians back to the negotiating table.

Israeli analyst⁸ Ra'anan Gissin says the prime minister has no choice, but to make concessions⁹ through quiet diplomacy¹⁰.

"Benjamin Netanyahu faces a very tough moment," said Gissin.  "I mean he is learning the hard way what many other prime ministers in about 30 years have understood, that you first have to negotiate and strike a deal with the United States before you can even start any contacts with the Palestinian or with the Arab side."

The Palestinian response appears positive.  In an interview on Israeli television, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said he is ready to start indirect peace talks.

Mr. Abbas said he will meet with Arab League representatives this Saturday to seek approval for resuming negotiations¹¹, and he said he hopes to get a green light.

So there is cautious optimism on both sides that peace talks will resume next month after a 16-month stalemate.

 

1 concession   

n.让步，妥协；特许(权)

参考例句：

• We can not make heavy concession to the matter.我们在这个问题上不能过于让步。
• That is a great concession.这是很大的让步。

2 deadlock   

n.僵局，僵持

参考例句：

• The negotiations reached a deadlock after two hours.两小时后，谈判陷入了僵局。
• The employers and strikers are at a deadlock over the wage.雇主和罢工者在工资问题上相持不下。

3 scuttled   

v.使船沉没( scuttle的过去式和过去分词 )；快跑，急走

参考例句：

• She scuttled off when she heard the sound of his voice. 听到他的说话声，她赶紧跑开了。
• The thief scuttled off when he saw the policeman. 小偷看见警察来了便急忙跑掉。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 appease   

v.安抚，缓和，平息，满足

参考例句：

• He tried to appease the crying child by giving him candy.他试图给那个啼哭的孩子糖果使他不哭。
• The government tried to appease discontented workers.政府试图安抚不满的工人们。

5 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。

6 curbs   

v.限制，克制，抑制( curb的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• In executing his functions he is not bound by any legal curbs on his power. 在他履行职务时，他的权力是不受任何法律约束的。 来自辞典例句
• Curbs on air travel were being worked out and would shortly be announced. 限制航空旅行的有关规定正在拟定中，不久即将公布。 来自辞典例句

7 privately   

adv.以私人的身份，悄悄地，私下地

参考例句：

• Some ministers admit privately that unemployment could continue to rise.一些部长私下承认失业率可能继续升高。
• The man privately admits that his motive is profits.那人私下承认他的动机是为了牟利。

8 analyst   

n.分析家，化验员；心理分析学家

参考例句：

• What can you contribute to the position of a market analyst?你有什么技能可有助于市场分析员的职务？
• The analyst is required to interpolate values between standards.分析人员需要在这些标准中插入一些值。

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。

10 diplomacy   

n.外交；外交手腕，交际手腕

参考例句：

• The talks have now gone into a stage of quiet diplomacy.会谈现在已经进入了“温和外交”阶段。
• This was done through the skill in diplomacy. 这是通过外交手腕才做到的。

11 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。