VOA慢速英语2018 以色列对阿根廷取消足球比赛这一行为感到愤怒（在线收听）

Israel Angry over Argentina’s Cancellation of Football Match

Many Israelis were angry Wednesday after Argentina suddenly cancelled plans to send players to a sporting event.

阿根廷周三突然取消了派球员参加某项体育赛事的计划，惹怒了很多以色列人。

The Israeli national football team and Argentina’s team were to have played Saturday night in Jerusalem. The football match was to take place just days before the start of World Cup championship action in Russia.

以色列国足和阿根廷国足原定于周六晚上在耶路撒冷进行比赛。这场足球比赛原本将在俄罗斯世界杯开幕前几天举行。

The cancellation followed protests in support of Palestinian rights. Some Israeli officials accused Argentina’s Lionel Messi and other players of giving in to terrorism.

比赛取消发生在支持巴勒斯坦人权利的示威活动之后。一些以色列官员指责阿根廷的梅西等球员屈服于恐怖主义。

In the United States, European football is called soccer.

在美国，欧洲的football被称之为soccer。

Argentina is one of the most popular national teams among Israelis. Many people were hoping to see Messi, one of the game’s stars, in person.

阿根廷是以色列人最喜欢的国家足球队之一。很多人希望亲眼看到作为这场比赛明星之一的梅西。

But after intense Palestinian protests, Argentina announced its team would not attend the event.

但是在巴勒斯坦人激烈抗议之后，阿根廷宣布该国球队将不会参加这场比赛。

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called Argentine President Mauricio Macri and urged him to intervene. But his efforts were unsuccessful.

以色列总理内塔尼亚胡致电阿根廷总统马克里，督促他进行干预，但是他的努力未能取得成功。

Late Wednesday, Israel’s Sports Ministry said that a “negotiation” about the match was underway, but gave no other details.

周三晚些时候，以色列体育部长称正在就比赛进行谈判，但是没有提供任何细节。

Israeli defense minister Avigdor Lieberman said, “It’s unfortunate the soccer knights of Argentina did not withstand the pressure of the Israeli-hating inciters.” He added that their “only goal is to harm our basic right to self-defense and bring about the destruction of Israel.”

以色列国防部长利伯曼表示：“不幸的是，阿根廷的球星们不能承受煽动仇恨以色列人士的压力。”他补充说：“他们唯一的目标是伤害我们的基本自卫权，并给以色列带来破坏。”

Jibril Rajoub leads the Palestinian football association. He had called on Arabs to burn Lionel Messi pictures and Messi T-shirts if he played the match. Rajoub has long attempted to get FIFA, football’s world governing body, and the International Olympic Committee to take action against Israel.

拉杰布领导着巴勒斯坦足协。他曾呼吁阿拉伯人焚烧梅西的照片和球衣，如果他参加这场比赛的话。拉杰布一直试图让足球界管理机构国际足联以及国际奥委会对以色列采取行动。

Rajoub believes Israel should be punished for restricting movement of Palestinian players, and for forming teams in Jewish West Bank settlements.

拉杰布认为以色列限制巴勒斯坦球员的流动，并在犹太西岸定居点组建球队，应该为此惩罚以色列。

He had also objected to having the match played in Jerusalem. Palestinians claim the eastern part of the city as their capital.

他也反对在耶路撒冷举行这场比赛。巴勒斯坦人声称该城市的东部是他们的首都。

Following the move, Rajoub spoke with reporters in Ramallah. He had a picture of him with Messi and a sign reading: “From Palestine, thank you Messi.”

在此之后，拉杰布在拉马拉与记者进行了对话。他拿着一副自己同梅西的合影，上面写着：“来自巴勒斯坦，感谢你梅西。”

Rajoub had accused Israel of playing politics with the game by moving it from the port of Haifa to Jerusalem. He said, “They tried to use sport as a tool for political ends, and for this I think, they failed.”

拉杰布指责以色列玩弄政治，把这场比赛从海法港换到了耶路撒冷。他说：“他们试图将体育当作政治目的的工具。从这个角度来说我认为他们失败了。”

But Israel’s sports minister, Miri Regev said, the game was moved for safety reasons. Regev claimed that “terrorist” groups had made threats against Argentina’s players and their families. She said the groups sent them images of dead children, but gave no further evidence.

但是以色列体育部长雷格夫表示，这场比赛换地是出于安全原因。雷格夫称“恐怖主义”团体对阿根廷球员及家人做出威胁。她说，这些团体给他们发去死去的孩子的照片，但是没有提供进一步证据。

The Argentinean move raised fears that it could lead to future boycotts of Jerusalem. The fears come as Israel is preparing to host the Eurovision song competition next year.

阿根廷此举引发人们担心这会导致以后对耶路撒冷的抵制。当以色列准备明年举办欧洲歌唱比赛时，这种担心就来了。

Israeli organizers noted an offer to have the game played in Barcelona instead. But it is not likely that will happen.

以色列组织者提出改到巴塞罗那举行比赛，但是这也不太可能。

Argentina begins its first World Cup game in Russia against Iceland on June 16. The team then plays Croatia on June 21 and Nigeria on June 26.

阿根廷对将于6月16日开始与冰岛队的首场俄罗斯世界杯比赛，然后将于6月21日对阵克罗地亚，6月26日对阵尼日利亚。

I’m Jonathan Evans.

Words in this Story

match – n. a competition involving two or more groups

underway – adj. performed or used while moving or taking place

withstand – v. to stand up against

association – n. an organization, alliance or group