VOA慢速英语2014 以色列和巴勒斯坦同意停火（在线收听）

Israel and the Palestinians Agree to Truce 以色列和巴勒斯坦同意停火

Israeli and Palestinian negotiators announced Tuesday that they have agreed to an extended ceasefire after seven weeks of deadly fighting in Gaza.

The ceasefire took effect at 7 p.m. local time (1600 GMT). Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas announced the truce from his headquarters in the West Bank city of Ramallah. 

Egypt organized the truce.  It calls for Israel to ease its blockade of Gaza. The agreement will permit shipments of humanitarian aid and building materials for repair and reconstruction in Gaza. The two sides will continue talks about Israel’s demand that Hamas militants surrender their weapons.

The United States said it strongly supports the truce.

Over 2,000 Palestinians, mostly civilians, and more than 60 Israelis were killed in the almost two month long conflict.

Belarus Meeting Fails to End Fighting in Ukraine

Ukraine's President Petro Poroshenko and Russia's President Vladimir Putin met in the Belarusian capital, Minsk, Tuesday.  They failed to reach agreement about the conflict in eastern Ukraine.

Mr. Poroshenko said the conflict would end with a secure border for Ukraine. He said there must be a block to transports of arms from Russia to the rebels.

Mr. Putin demanded that Russia be permitted to meet with the rebels and supply humanitarian aid.

Cambodian Opposition Gets Parliamentary Commissions

This week lawmakers from Cambodia’s opposition party are being voted onto 10 parliament committees. The vote is one term of a political deal to end the country’s political crisis.

The opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party boycotted the parliament after winning 55 seats in the 132-seat National Assembly. The opposition accused Prime Minister Hun Sen of cheating to keep a small majority.

Son Chhay, a leader of the opposition expressed hope for the future.  He said the agreement was a very good beginning.

Old Favorites ‘Breaking Bad’ and ‘Modern Family’ Win Emmys

“Breaking Bad” was honored at the Primetime Emmy Awards on Monday as the top drama series on U.S. television. The show received the Emmy for a second straight year.  It also won three acting awards.

In comedy, “Modern Family” won the Emmy for best series. It has won the award the last four years as well.

The award program also honored actor Robin Williams whose recent suicide shocked people around the world.  Williams was found dead in his California home on August eleventh.