For the first time since the start of the Israeli military offensive in Gaza, U.S. President George Bush has gone before television cameras to talk about the Mideast crisis.
自以色列对加沙开始发动攻击以来，美国总统布什第一次在电视摄像机前谈论中东危机。
The president stayed quiet during the first week of the Israeli military operation.
在以色列军事行动的第一个星期，布什总统没有亲自发表讲话。
He was on a holiday break at his Texas ranch, and let his spokesman speak on his behalf.
他当时在德克萨斯州的牧场度假，他让自己的发言人代表自己讲话。
His voice was first heard addressing the situation in Gaza last Friday in his weekly radio address. On Monday, he went a step further - making brief comments to reporters called into his office to witness the final moments of a meeting with First Vice President Salva Kiir of Sudan.
上星期五，在布什每周一次的例行广播讲话中，人们第一次听到布什有关加沙局势的讲话。本星期一，布什又进了一步，他在白宫向记者发表简短评论。这些记者被请到白宫目睹布什总统跟苏丹第一副总统基尔会晤的最后一段时间。
He said Israel was justified in taking action against Hamas militants in Gaza.
布什表示，以色列有理由对加沙的哈马斯激进分子采取行动。
"I understand Israel's desire to protect itself, and that the situation now taking place in Gaza was caused by Hamas," said Mr. Bush.
布什说：“我理解以色列自卫的愿望。目前加沙的局势是哈马斯造成的。”
The United States considers Hamas to be a terrorist organization. And while he has urged Israel to do all it can to limit civilian casualties, President Bush has not called for a complete end to the assault. In his comments at the White House he made clear once again that he believes Hamas is using the people of Gaza to achieve militant ends.
美国认为哈马斯是恐怖组织。布什已经敦促以色列尽可能减少平民的伤亡，但是他并没有敦促以色列完全停止进攻。布什在白宫的讲话再次明确表示，他认为哈马斯在利用加沙人民达到军事目的。
"Instead of caring about the people of Gaza, Hamas decided to use Gaza to launch rockets to kill innocent Israelis. And Israel has obviously decided to protect herself and her people," he said.
布什说：“哈马斯并不关切加沙人民。它决定利用加沙发动火箭攻击，杀害无辜的以色列人。很明显，以色列决定保卫自己的国家和人民。”
He spoke as the Israeli military continued its assault on Gaza for a tenth straight day, and Hamas fired more rockets into southern Israel.
布什讲话的同时，以色列军方连续第10天对加沙进行攻击。哈马斯则向以色列南部发射了更多火箭。
The death toll in Gaza now tops more than 540. The president said he remains concerned about the humanitarian crisis unfolding there.
目前加沙的死亡人数已经超过540人。布什总统说，他对加沙不断扩大的人道危机感到关切。
"We care about the people of Gaza, and, therefore, have provided millions of dollars of fresh aid to the United Nations to help," said Mr. Bush.
“我们关切加沙人民。因此我们向联合国提供了数百万美元的最新援助。”
President Bush stressed once again that while he would like to see the violence end, any cease-fire must be durable and respected by all.
布什总统再次强调，虽然他希望暴力冲突结束，但是任何停火必须是能够持久的，而且受到所有各方的尊重。
He noted that calls for Israel to end the assault are coming from many quarters - both inside and outside the Arab world. He said those urging an immediate end to the fighting have noble ambitions. But he said any cease-fire must include conditions so Hamas can not use Gaza as a launch pad for rocket attacks on Israel.
布什指出，许多方面都敦促以色列停止进攻，这些压力来自以色列国内外，也来自阿拉伯世界。布什表示，那些敦促立即停火的人的目的是高尚的。但是他说，任何停火必须包括一些条件，要求哈马斯不能再把加沙作为向以色列发动火箭攻击的基地。 |