在线英语听力室

VOA标准英语2009年-Relations Between Turkey, Israel Continue

时间:2009-11-05 08:14:53

搜索关注在线英语听力室公众号:tingroom,领取免费英语资料大礼包。

(单词翻译)

By Dorian Jones
Istanbul
27 October 2009

For more than a decade Turkey and Israel have enjoyed close military cooperation including joint1 naval2 exercises that have taken place since they signed a military cooperation agreement in 1996. But relations between the two countries have cooled since Ankara criticized Israel's offensive in the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip in December and January. Most recently, Turkey postponed3 a joint air force drill after opposing Israel's participation4.

 
A cloud of smoke billows from the Gaza Strip following an Israeli strikes as seen from the Israel-Gaza border, 15 Jan 2009
The first episode of a Turkish TV series that was reported on Israeli news channels shows an Israeli soldier taking aim at a smiling Palestinian girl, killing5 her. The airing of the controversial program caused outrage6 in Tel Aviv and is the latest strain on relations between the two countries.

The growing strains stem largely from Ankara's increasing criticism of Israel's occupation of Palestinian territory, and more recently, Ankara' canceled joint military exercises with Israel scheduled for later this month.

Suat Kiniklioglu, spokesman for the Turkish parliamentary committee on foreign affairs, explains.

"Turkish public opinion could not agree with the fact that an Israeli aircraft would be training on Turkish territory, while at the same time there are gross human rights violation7 being committed in Gaza," he said. "I think one needs to recognize - given the current state of relations - it is difficult to describe it as a strategic one anymore. It is a relationship that maybe was strategic in the past, but its probably downgraded to a more ordinary bilateral8 relationship."

The tensions have imperiled a strategic alliance forged in 1996 that cemented military and intelligence ties.

In January, Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan publicly criticized Israel over the Gaza campaign and walked out of a session of the World Economic Forum9 in Switzerland attended by Israeli President Shimon Peres.

Mr. Erdogan accused Israel of "barbarian10 acts" during the 22-day Gaza incursion, which Israel launched in response to a wave of deadly rocket attacks from Palestinian territory. Some 1,400 Palestinians, most of them civilians12, were killed by Israeli forces during the Gaza operation.

Experts say Turkey's tough stance is causing concern both in the United States and Europe.

US Congressman13 Robert Wexler, a self-described friend of Turkey, attacked the Turkish prime minister of double standards.

"Where's the outrage when the prime minister talks about no tolerance14 for terror?" he asked. "The terror in this region is created by Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in Gaza. Where was the outrage for years as there was strikes against civilian11 targets in Israel?"

But on the streets of Istanbul there is widespread support for the government's stance towards Israel. This man's view is typical.

He says, too much blood is being shed, and many innocent people are being killed, most of whom are Palestinians. The Israelis are responsible for this. It's wrong that Turkey has close relations with the Israeli government and army, which is responsible for these deaths. This really disturbs me, he says.

The 1996 alliance between Israel and Turkey, made Ankara Israel's closest friend in the Muslim world.

Soli Ozel of Istanbul's Bilgi University said the alliance, one of the most significant in the Middle East, stemmed from a recognition of mutual15 security interests. Both countries were isolated16 regionally and at that time shared common foes17, Syria in particular.

"Turkey was fighting a war against an insurrectionary movement whose leader was sitting in Syria," he explained. "And the relation with Israel within two years allowed Turkey to tell the Syrians you either kick him out or we will come in there to pick him up and it worked."

But change began when the Islamist-rooted AKP Party was elected to power in 2002.

Earlier this month Syria and Turkey signed what is being described as an historic agreement, which allows visa-free travel between the two countries. Preparations are also under way for a joint military exercise between the two. No plans are scheduled for any future such cooperation with Israel.

Turkish parliamentary committee on foreign affairs spokesman Kiniklioglu says he expects little improvement in relations with Israel.

"If the current posture18 of the Israeli government on Gaza continues it would not be difficult to predict that Turkish and Israeli relations will continue to be difficult and fragile," he noted19. "So I think we need to brace20 ourselves for a new period."

Analysts21 say the once political and militarily strategic alliance between Turkey and Israel was the most powerful alliance in the region. But for now at least those days seem over. With Ankara working hard to improve relations with Syria, Iraq and even the prime minister's visit to Tehran, few people see little chance of a renewal of that alliance anytime soon


分享到:


点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 joint m3lx4     
adj.联合的,共同的;n.关节,接合处;v.连接,贴合
参考例句:
  • I had a bad fall,which put my shoulder out of joint.我重重地摔了一跤,肩膀脫臼了。
  • We wrote a letter in joint names.我们联名写了封信。
2 naval h1lyU     
adj.海军的,军舰的,船的
参考例句:
  • He took part in a great naval battle.他参加了一次大海战。
  • The harbour is an important naval base.该港是一个重要的海军基地。
3 postponed 9dc016075e0da542aaa70e9f01bf4ab1     
vt.& vi.延期,缓办,(使)延迟vt.把…放在次要地位;[语]把…放在后面(或句尾)vi.(疟疾等)延缓发作(或复发)
参考例句:
  • The trial was postponed indefinitely. 审讯无限期延迟。
  • The game has already been postponed three times. 这场比赛已经三度延期了。
4 participation KS9zu     
n.参与,参加,分享
参考例句:
  • Some of the magic tricks called for audience participation.有些魔术要求有观众的参与。
  • The scheme aims to encourage increased participation in sporting activities.这个方案旨在鼓励大众更多地参与体育活动。
5 killing kpBziQ     
n.巨额利润;突然赚大钱,发大财
参考例句:
  • Investors are set to make a killing from the sell-off.投资者准备清仓以便大赚一笔。
  • Last week my brother made a killing on Wall Street.上个周我兄弟在华尔街赚了一大笔。
6 outrage hvOyI     
n.暴行,侮辱,愤怒;vt.凌辱,激怒
参考例句:
  • When he heard the news he reacted with a sense of outrage.他得悉此事时义愤填膺。
  • We should never forget the outrage committed by the Japanese invaders.我们永远都不应该忘记日本侵略者犯下的暴行。
7 violation lLBzJ     
n.违反(行为),违背(行为),侵犯
参考例句:
  • He roared that was a violation of the rules.他大声说,那是违反规则的。
  • He was fined 200 dollars for violation of traffic regulation.他因违反交通规则被罚款200美元。
8 bilateral dQGyW     
adj.双方的,两边的,两侧的
参考例句:
  • They have been negotiating a bilateral trade deal.他们一直在商谈一项双边贸易协定。
  • There was a wide gap between the views of the two statesmen on the bilateral cooperation.对双方合作的问题,两位政治家各自所持的看法差距甚大。
9 forum cilx0     
n.论坛,讨论会
参考例句:
  • They're holding a forum on new ways of teaching history.他们正在举行历史教学讨论会。
  • The organisation would provide a forum where problems could be discussed.这个组织将提供一个可以讨论问题的平台。
10 barbarian nyaz13     
n.野蛮人;adj.野蛮(人)的;未开化的
参考例句:
  • There is a barbarian tribe living in this forest.有一个原始部落居住在这个林区。
  • The walled city was attacked by barbarian hordes.那座有城墙的城市遭到野蛮部落的袭击。
11 civilian uqbzl     
adj.平民的,民用的,民众的
参考例句:
  • There is no reliable information about civilian casualties.关于平民的伤亡还没有确凿的信息。
  • He resigned his commission to take up a civilian job.他辞去军职而从事平民工作。
12 civilians 2a8bdc87d05da507ff4534c9c974b785     
平民,百姓( civilian的名词复数 ); 老百姓
参考例句:
  • the bloody massacre of innocent civilians 对无辜平民的血腥屠杀
  • At least 300 civilians are unaccounted for after the bombing raids. 遭轰炸袭击之后,至少有300名平民下落不明。
13 Congressman TvMzt7     
n.(美)国会议员
参考例句:
  • He related several anecdotes about his first years as a congressman.他讲述自己初任议员那几年的几则轶事。
  • The congressman is meditating a reply to his critics.这位国会议员正在考虑给他的批评者一个答复。
14 tolerance Lnswz     
n.宽容;容忍,忍受;耐药力;公差
参考例句:
  • Tolerance is one of his strengths.宽容是他的一个优点。
  • Human beings have limited tolerance of noise.人类对噪音的忍耐力有限。
15 mutual eFOxC     
adj.相互的,彼此的;共同的,共有的
参考例句:
  • We must pull together for mutual interest.我们必须为相互的利益而通力合作。
  • Mutual interests tied us together.相互的利害关系把我们联系在一起。
16 isolated bqmzTd     
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。
17 foes 4bc278ea3ab43d15b718ac742dc96914     
敌人,仇敌( foe的名词复数 )
参考例句:
  • They steadily pushed their foes before them. 他们不停地追击敌人。
  • She had fought many battles, vanquished many foes. 她身经百战,挫败过很多对手。
18 posture q1gzk     
n.姿势,姿态,心态,态度;v.作出某种姿势
参考例句:
  • The government adopted an uncompromising posture on the issue of independence.政府在独立这一问题上采取了毫不妥协的态度。
  • He tore off his coat and assumed a fighting posture.他脱掉上衣,摆出一副打架的架势。
19 noted 5n4zXc     
adj.著名的,知名的
参考例句:
  • The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
  • Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。
20 brace 0WzzE     
n. 支柱,曲柄,大括号; v. 绷紧,顶住,(为困难或坏事)做准备
参考例句:
  • My daughter has to wear a brace on her teeth. 我的女儿得戴牙套以矫正牙齿。
  • You had better brace yourself for some bad news. 有些坏消息,你最好做好准备。
21 analysts 167ff30c5034ca70abe2d60a6e760448     
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。

本文本内容来源于互联网抓取和网友提交,仅供参考,部分栏目没有内容,如果您有更合适的内容,欢迎 点击提交 分享给大家。