VOA标准英语2011--Obama, in Mideast Speech, Supports Pales

IN THE NEWS - Obama, in Mideast Speech, Supports Palestinian Demand

This is IN THE NEWS in VOA Special English.
President Obama discussed the political unrest in the Middle East and North Africa in a speech Thursday in Washington.
BARACK OBAMA: "We support political and economic reform in the Middle East and North Africa that can meet the legitimate¹ aspirations² of ordinary people throughout the region. Our support for these principles is not a secondary interest. Today I want to make it clear that it is a top priority that must be translated into concrete actions and supported by all of the diplomatic, economic and strategic tools at our disposal."
The president announced new aid to help democracy efforts in Egypt and Tunisia. The leaders of both countries were overthrown³ earlier this year.
And Mister Obama strongly condemned⁴ Syria's president, Bashar al-Assad.
BARACK OBAMA: "President Assad now has a choice: he can lead that transition, or get out of the way. The Syrian government must stop shooting demonstrators and allow peaceful protests. It must release political prisoners and stop unjust arrests. It must allow human rights monitors to have access to cities like Dara'a, and start a serious dialogue to advance a democratic transition."
Mr. Obama linked the protests in the Arab world to unmet economic needs.
BARACK OBAMA: "After all, politics alone has not put protesters into the streets. The tipping point for so many people is the more constant concern of putting food on the table and providing for a family. Too many in the region wake up with few expectations other than making it through the day, and perhaps the hope that their luck will change."
The president also said he disagrees with people who argue that moving forward on a Middle East peace plan is not possible now because of all the change taking place. In his words, "the drive for a lasting⁵ peace that ends the conflict and resolves all claims is more urgent than ever."
Mr. Obama gave his support to a major Palestinian demand. He said the borders of Israel and a future Palestine should be based on lines that existed before the nineteen sixty-seven Middle East war. Israel captured areas including the West Bank, East Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip during the Six-Day War with Egypt, Jordan and Syria.
Mr. Obama said there should be conditions that would involve land exchanges between Israel and the Palestinians.
BARACK OBAMA: "The United States believes that negotiations⁶ should result in two states, with permanent Palestinian borders with Israel, Jordan and Egypt, and permanent Israeli borders with Palestine. We believe the borders of Israel and Palestine should be based on the nineteen sixty-seven lines with mutually agreed swaps⁷, so that secure and recognized borders are established for both states."
On Friday, President Obama met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House. Mr. Netanyahu said he values Mr. Obama's efforts and that Israel is willing to make "generous compromises for peace." But he said Israel cannot go back to the nineteen sixty-seven lines.
Those lines, he said, are "indefensible." He says an Israeli withdrawal⁸ from some of the areas gained during the Six-Day War would leave major Jewish settlements in the West Bank outside of Israel.
Hanna Siniora is a member of the Palestine National Council from East Jerusalem. He praised Mr. Obama for talking in detail about borders, saying it was an important point for the Palestinians.
HANNA SINIORA: "We heard all American administrations talk about unshakeable security for Israel. We are not against security for Israel, but we are asking at the same time for security for the Palestinians, and this can only happen if the border between the two states is defined."
And that's IN THE NEWS in VOA Special English. I'm Steve Ember.
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Contributing: Meredith Buel, Andre de Nesnera, Kent Klein, Luis Ramirez and Dan Robinson

1 legitimate   

adj.合法的，合理的，合乎逻辑的；v.使合法

参考例句：

• Sickness is a legitimate reason for asking for leave.生病是请假的一个正当的理由。
• That's a perfectly legitimate fear.怀有这种恐惧完全在情理之中。

2 aspirations   

强烈的愿望( aspiration的名词复数 )； 志向； 发送气音； 发 h 音

参考例句：

• I didn't realize you had political aspirations. 我没有意识到你有政治上的抱负。
• The new treaty embodies the aspirations of most nonaligned countries. 新条约体现了大多数不结盟国家的愿望。

3 overthrown   

adj. 打翻的，推倒的，倾覆的 动词overthrow的过去分词

参考例句：

• The president was overthrown in a military coup. 总统在军事政变中被赶下台。
• He has overthrown the basic standards of morality. 他已摒弃了基本的道德标准。

4 condemned   

adj. 被责难的, 被宣告有罪的 动词condemn的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• He condemned the hypocrisy of those politicians who do one thing and say another. 他谴责了那些说一套做一套的政客的虚伪。
• The policy has been condemned as a regressive step. 这项政策被认为是一种倒退而受到谴责。

5 lasting   

adj.永久的，永恒的；vbl.持续，维持

参考例句：

• The lasting war debased the value of the dollar.持久的战争使美元贬值。
• We hope for a lasting settlement of all these troubles.我们希望这些纠纷能获得永久的解决。

6 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。

7 swaps   

交换( swap的名词复数 )； 交换物，被掉换者

参考例句：

• He swaps his old car for a new motorcycle. 他用旧车换了一辆新摩托车。 来自英汉 - 翻译样例 - 口语
• Swaps the anchor and end points of the current selection. 交换当前所选内容的定位点和结束点。

8 withdrawal   

n.取回，提款；撤退，撤军；收回，撤销

参考例句：

• The police were forced to make a tactical withdrawal.警方被迫进行战术撤退。
• They insisted upon a withdrawal of the statement and a public apology.他们坚持要收回那些话并公开道歉。