VOA标准英语2011--Analysts: Prisoner Exchange Could Boost Hamas

Analysts²: Prisoner Exchange Could Boost Hamas

Some Middle East analysts say the release of an Israeli soldier and hundreds of Palestinian prisoners could have a significant effect on security in Israel and the Mideast.

It is a rare day in the Middle East when Hamas in the Gaza Strip, the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank and Israelis celebrate the same event.

Five years after Hamas militants³ in Gaza captured Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, they released him Tuesday. On the same day, Israel released hundreds of Palestinians. Many were convicted in attacks on Israelis, but the Palestinians regard them as heroes.

After greeting Shalit, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned any freed Palestinian who returns to terrorism will be held accountable.

Michael Singh, managing director of the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, says that is a major concern.

“Some of these men and women who were released are dangerous people who have engaged in terrorist acts and so the impact on Israel’s security or upon the security of the region is worrisome,” Singh said.

The prisoner swap⁴ comes after years in which little progress has been made in building peace between Israel and the Palestinians.

“I think that for Israel part of the reason [for the swap] was that they no longer worry as much as they did in the past about weakening the Palestinian Authority or about strengthening Hamas because frankly⁵, right now, the peace process is stalled,” Singh said.

The exchange could alter the rivalry⁶ between Hamas in Gaza and the Palestinian Authority, which rules the West Bank.

Analysts say Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, after years of unsuccessful negotiations⁷ with Israel, could suffer politically.

Hamas, which negotiated the swap with the help of Egypt, could get a boost in popularity.

“You know [Hamas] was badly in need of political achievements of one kind or another at the moment, also because of the Arab Spring, which has left it feeling a bit isolated⁸ and ignored, also because of the recent advances made by the Palestinian Authority with regards to the United Nations’ and recognition of a Palestinian state,” said Middle East analyst¹ Jonathan Speyer.

Israeli security analyst Daniel Scheuftan says the rapid changes in the Arab world also create new challenges for the Jewish state. “The real issue is when you look at Iran, Turkey, Egypt and the United States we have had changes that make the environment Israel needs to operate in much more dangerous, much more unstable,” he said.

Under the agreement that led to the release of Shalit, Israel will release 550 more Palestinians over the next two months.

1 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。

2 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。

3 militants   

激进分子，好斗分子( militant的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The militants have been sporadically fighting the government for years. 几年来，反叛分子一直对政府实施零星的战斗。
• Despite the onslaught, Palestinian militants managed to fire off rockets. 尽管如此，巴勒斯坦的激进分子仍然发射导弹。

4 swap   

n.交换；vt.交换，用...作交易

参考例句：

• I will swap you my bicycle for your radio.我想拿我的自行车换你的收音机。
• This comic was a swap that I got from Nick.这本漫画书是我从尼克那里换来的。

5 frankly   

adv.坦白地，直率地；坦率地说

参考例句：

• To speak frankly, I don't like the idea at all.老实说，我一点也不赞成这个主意。
• Frankly speaking, I'm not opposed to reform.坦率地说，我不反对改革。

6 rivalry   

n.竞争，竞赛，对抗

参考例句：

• The quarrel originated in rivalry between the two families.这次争吵是两家不和引起的。
• He had a lot of rivalry with his brothers and sisters.他和兄弟姐妹间经常较劲。

7 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。

8 isolated   

adj.与世隔绝的

参考例句：

• His bad behaviour was just an isolated incident. 他的不良行为只是个别事件。
• Patients with the disease should be isolated. 这种病的患者应予以隔离。