2006年VOA标准英语-House Approves Palestinian Sanctions Bill

By Dan Robinson
Capitol Hill
23 May 2006
 

Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh of Hamas, center, meets with local Hamas and Fatah leaders in his office in Gaza City, Tuesday, May 9, 2006   
  
By a 361 to 37 majority, the U.S. House of Representatives Tuesday approved legislation calling for sanctions against the Palestinian Authority following the Hamas election victory earlier this year.   The White House remains¹ opposed to the legislation.

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The Palestinian Anti-Terrorism Act had the support of a vast majority of the 435-member Republican-controlled House of Representatives.

The legislation would cut off all assistance to the Hamas-led Palestinian Authority, and place conditions on humanitarian² assistance flowing through non-government organizations. 

The House bill and similar Senate legislation both contain provisions designed to send a strong message to Hamas that it must formally renounce³ terrorism, recognize Israel, disarm⁴ militant⁵ groups, stop anti-Israeli incitement⁶ and reform its financial institutions.

The legislation would also declare the Palestinian Authority a terrorist sanctuary⁷, deny visas for Palestinian officials, restrict travel by Palestinian Authority officials based at the United Nations, and cut off funds for diplomatic contacts between U.S. and Palestinian officials. 

Debate reflected strong opinions over how Congress and the United States should continue to help the Palestinian people while expressing disapproval⁸ of Hamas policies.

"Today, we must send a message to Hamas, and President Abbas, that the free nations of the world reject their desire to be recognized as legitimate⁹ leaders of their people," said Eric Cantor, a Virginia Republican.  "Both Hamas and Fatah's al-Aqsa Martyr's Brigade have a record of terror and their leaders have a demonstrated lack of humanity by allowing these murderous activities."

Opponents argued that the legislation's provisions would reduce U.S. flexibility¹⁰ to guide Palestinian-Israeli peace efforts by limiting the president's decision-making powers.  

Earl Blumenauer, an Oregon Democrat¹¹, argues the measure will also strengthen the hand of Palestinian extremists.   

"It does little to prioritize on the basis of our strategic interests, and provides no prospect¹² for Palestinian reform coming through the process of negotiations¹³," he noted¹⁴.  "In so doing, it weakens the hands of those who advocate for peace negotiations, and supports those extremists who believe in violence." 

However, a Democrat and co-sponsor of the measure, Tom Lantos, says Congress must send an unambiguous message to Hamas.

"It is, therefore, incumbent¹⁵ upon us, as the ally and longtime supporter of the Democratic state of Israel, to do everything we can to demonstrate the bankruptcy¹⁶ of Hamas' vision and to ensure that Hamas receives no help from the United States in implementing¹⁷ its evil plans," said Mr. Lantos.

In contrast to the House version, the Senate bill gives the president authority to disregard the law in the interests of U.S. National Security.

The House measure would allow U.S. aid to the West Bank or Gaza for humanitarian needs, including water, food, medicine and sanitation¹⁸, and if it is shown to promote national security interests of the United States.

Overwhelming House approval of the bill came as President Bush prepared for talks with Israel's Prime Minister Ehud Olmert.

Presidential spokesman Tony Snow reiterated¹⁹ White House opposition²⁰ to the legislation.

"We did not support that measure precisely²¹ because it does tie the president's hand in some of the activities that I was just talking about just now which is providing humanitarian aid.  We think it unnecessarily constrains," said Mr. Snow.

State Department spokesman Sean McCormack explained the State Department's role in the legislation. 

"We are going to be working with both sides both the House as well as the Senate on what the shape of this final bill looks like, what the shape of any potential restrictions²² on the flow money from the U.S. to the Palestinian areas might be," he said.

Any house legislation would have to be reconciled with the Senate's version, which has yet to be considered at committee level in that chamber²³.  The bill would then have to go to President Bush for his signature before it would become law.

1 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

2 humanitarian   

n.人道主义者，博爱者，基督凡人论者

参考例句：

• She has many humanitarian interests and contributes a lot to them.她拥有很多慈善事业，并作了很大的贡献。
• The British government has now suspended humanitarian aid to the area.英国政府现已暂停对这一地区的人道主义援助。

3 renounce   

v.放弃；拒绝承认，宣布与…断绝关系

参考例句：

• She decided to renounce the world and enter a convent.她决定弃绝尘世去当修女。
• It was painful for him to renounce his son.宣布与儿子脱离关系对他来说是很痛苦的。

4 disarm   

v.解除武装，回复平常的编制，缓和

参考例句：

• The world has waited 12 years for Iraq to disarm. 全世界等待伊拉克解除武装已有12年之久。
• He has rejected every peaceful opportunity offered to him to disarm.他已经拒绝了所有能和平缴械的机会。

5 militant   

adj.激进的，好斗的；n.激进分子，斗士

参考例句：

• Some militant leaders want to merge with white radicals.一些好斗的领导人要和白人中的激进派联合。
• He is a militant in the movement.他在那次运动中是个激进人物。

6 incitement   

激励； 刺激； 煽动； 激励物

参考例句：

• incitement to racial hatred 种族仇恨的挑起
• Interest is an incitement to study. 兴趣刺激学习。

7 sanctuary   

n.圣所，圣堂，寺庙；禁猎区，保护区

参考例句：

• There was a sanctuary of political refugees behind the hospital.医院后面有一个政治难民的避难所。
• Most countries refuse to give sanctuary to people who hijack aeroplanes.大多数国家拒绝对劫机者提供庇护。

8 disapproval   

n.反对，不赞成

参考例句：

• The teacher made an outward show of disapproval.老师表面上表示不同意。
• They shouted their disapproval.他们喊叫表示反对。

9 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。

10 flexibility   

n.柔韧性，弹性，（光的）折射性，灵活性

参考例句：

• Her great strength lies in her flexibility.她的优势在于她灵活变通。
• The flexibility of a man's muscles will lessen as he becomes old.人老了肌肉的柔韧性将降低。

11 democrat   

n.民主主义者，民主人士；民主党党员

参考例句：

• The Democrat and the Public criticized each other.民主党人和共和党人互相攻击。
• About two years later,he was defeated by Democrat Jimmy Carter.大约两年后，他被民主党人杰米卡特击败。

12 prospect   

n.前景，前途；景色，视野

参考例句：

• This state of things holds out a cheerful prospect.事态呈现出可喜的前景。
• The prospect became more evident.前景变得更加明朗了。

13 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。

14 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

15 incumbent   

adj.成为责任的，有义务的；现任的，在职的

参考例句：

• He defeated the incumbent governor by a large plurality.他以压倒多数票击败了现任州长。
• It is incumbent upon you to warn them.你有责任警告他们。

16 bankruptcy   

n.破产；无偿付能力

参考例句：

• You will have to pull in if you want to escape bankruptcy.如果你想避免破产，就必须节省开支。
• His firm is just on thin ice of bankruptcy.他的商号正面临破产的危险。

17 implementing   

v.实现( implement的现在分词 )；执行；贯彻；使生效

参考例句：

• -- Implementing a comprehensive drug control strategy. ――实行综合治理的禁毒战略。 来自汉英非文学 - 白皮书
• He was in no hurry about implementing his unshakable principle. 他并不急于实行他那不可动摇的原则。 来自辞典例句

18 sanitation   

n.公共卫生，环境卫生，卫生设备

参考例句：

• The location is exceptionally poor,viewed from the sanitation point.从卫生角度来看，这个地段非常糟糕。
• Many illnesses are the result,f inadequate sanitation.许多疾病都来源于不健全的卫生设施。

19 reiterated   

反复地说，重申( reiterate的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• "Well, I want to know about it,'she reiterated. “嗯，我一定要知道你的休假日期，"她重复说。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹
• Some twenty-two years later President Polk reiterated and elaborated upon these principles. 大约二十二年之后，波尔克总统重申这些原则并且刻意阐释一番。

20 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

21 precisely   

adv.恰好，正好，精确地，细致地

参考例句：

• It's precisely that sort of slick sales-talk that I mistrust.我不相信的正是那种油腔滑调的推销宣传。
• The man adjusted very precisely.那个人调得很准。

22 restrictions   

约束( restriction的名词复数 )； 管制； 制约因素； 带限制性的条件（或规则）

参考例句：

• I found the restrictions irksome. 我对那些限制感到很烦。
• a snaggle of restrictions 杂乱无章的种种限制

23 chamber   

n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所

参考例句：

• For many,the dentist's surgery remains a torture chamber.对许多人来说，牙医的治疗室一直是间受刑室。
• The chamber was ablaze with light.会议厅里灯火辉煌。