2006年VOA标准英语-US Vetoes UN Resolution Condemning Israeli Gaza

By Peter Heinlein
United Nations
11 November 2006

The United States has used its Security Council veto to block a U.N. draft resolution condemning¹ a deadly Israeli attack in the Gaza Strip.  Sponsors of the resolution are planning to take the matter to the General Assembly.

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A Palestinian woman stands atop a bed in a destroyed home Tuesday, November 7, 2006 in the Gaza town of Beit Hanoun  
  
The Arab-backed measure received 10 votes in favor during a special Saturday session of the Security Council. Four countries, Japan, Slovakia, Denmark and Britain abstained², and the United States cast the lone³ "no" vote.

It was the second time this year the United States has used its veto to block passage of a resolution condemning Israeli military operations in the occupied territories.

The Arab-backed measure would have condemned⁴ the Israeli attack in Gaza last Wednesday that killed 19 Palestinian civilians⁵. It also urged a prompt withdrawal⁶ of Israeli forces from the area.

At the same time, the draft called on the Palestinian Authority to halt the firing of rockets into Israel, which Israeli authorities say prompted its military operations.

In casting his veto, America's U.N. Ambassador John Bolton said he was disturbed that the draft resolution was "biased⁷ and politically motivated".

 
US Ambassador to UN John Bolton 
  
"This resolution does not display an even-handed characterization of the recent events in Gaza, nor does it advance the cause of Israeli-Palestinian peace," said Mr. Bolton.

Bolton joined other Security Council ambassadors in expressing regret at the death and suffering caused by the Israeli attack. But he said it was impossible for the United States to vote in favor of the resolution because it lacked balance.

"Among many such examples are the following: The pre-ambular text equates⁸ Israeli military operations, which are legal, with the firing of rockets into Israel, aimed at civilians, which are acts of terrorism," he added.  "Moreover, its characterization of Israeli military actions as excessive and disproportionate constitutes a legal judgment⁹ that the Security Council would be ill-advised to make."

The head of the Palestinian observer mission to the U.N., Riyad Mansour, expressed disappointment with the veto. He said the Security Council's failure to act had sent wrong signals to the region.

"You have conveyed today two wrong messages," he said.  "For Israel you have conveyed that they can continue to behave above international law. For the Palestinian people, you have conveyed that justice is not being dealt with in proper way with regard to their issue by the Security Council."

Palestinian and other Arab diplomats¹⁰ indicated after Saturday's vote that they would bring the matter to the 192-member General Assembly, where no country has veto power. One Security Council ambassador said a special General Assembly session could be called as early as next week.

1 condemning   

v.（通常因道义上的原因而）谴责( condemn的现在分词 )；宣判；宣布…不能使用；迫使…陷于不幸的境地

参考例句：

• The government issued a statement condemning the killings. 政府发表声明谴责这些凶杀事件。
• I concur with the speaker in condemning what has been done. 我同意发言者对所做的事加以谴责。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

2 abstained   

v.戒（尤指酒），戒除( abstain的过去式和过去分词 )；弃权（不投票）

参考例句：

• Ten people voted in favour, five against and two abstained. 十人投票赞成，五人反对，两人弃权。
• They collectively abstained (from voting) in the elections for local councilors. 他们在地方议会议员选举中集体弃权。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 lone   

adj.孤寂的，单独的；唯一的

参考例句：

• A lone sea gull flew across the sky.一只孤独的海鸥在空中飞过。
• She could see a lone figure on the deserted beach.她在空旷的海滩上能看到一个孤独的身影。

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 civilians   

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。

6 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。

7 biased   

a.有偏见的

参考例句：

• a school biased towards music and art 一所偏重音乐和艺术的学校
• The Methods: They employed were heavily biased in the gentry's favour. 他们采用的方法严重偏袒中上阶级。

8 equates   

v.认为某事物（与另一事物）相等或相仿( equate的第三人称单数 )；相当于；等于；把（一事物） 和（另一事物）等同看待

参考例句：

• He equates success with material wealth. 他认为成功等同于物质财富。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• This equates to increased and vigor, better sleep and sharper mental acuity. 也就是说可以起到增强活力，改善睡眠，提高心智的作用。 来自互联网

9 judgment   

n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见

参考例句：

• The chairman flatters himself on his judgment of people.主席自认为他审视人比别人高明。
• He's a man of excellent judgment.他眼力过人。

10 diplomats   

n.外交官( diplomat的名词复数 )；有手腕的人，善于交际的人

参考例句：

• These events led to the expulsion of senior diplomats from the country. 这些事件导致一些高级外交官被驱逐出境。
• The court has no jurisdiction over foreign diplomats living in this country. 法院对驻本国的外交官无裁判权。 来自《简明英汉词典》