2006年VOA标准英语-US, G8 Partners Urge Israeli Restraint in Gaza

By David Gollust
State Department
29 June 2006

The United States and its partners at the G-8 foreign ministers meeting in Moscow appealed Thursday for Israeli restraint, as diplomatic efforts for the release for the Israeli soldier kidnapped in Gaza continue. The Bush administration is blaming Hamas for the crisis, but has expressed concern about Israel's roundup of Hamas political figures.

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Russia's President Vladimir Putin (l) raises a toast at meeting with G8 foreign ministers in Moscow  
  
The Moscow meeting had been framed in advance as largely a strategy session in the international confrontation¹ over Iran's nuclear program.

But Israel's incursion into Gaza became a major agenda item, with the eight ministers issuing a joint² call on Palestinians to secure the release of the kidnapped soldier, and for Israel to show restraint, and avoid harm to Palestinian civilians³.

At a press appearance with her G-8 colleagues, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said, while the current crisis began as a terrorist act, it is important that all parties act responsibly, so that civilians do not suffer and possibilities for peace in the region will be preserved.

 
Condoleezza Rice speaks at a news conference in Moscow 
  
"This crisis, of course, just underscores the need to have all Palestinian parties work on anti-terrorist activities," she said. "We also called on the Palestinian government and other parties to secure the release of the Israeli soldier, and we are also asking Israel to exercise restraint in this circumstance."

Officials here said Rice led U.S. diplomacy⁴ on the issue with telephone calls from Moscow Thursday to Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni and Egyptian Intelligence chief Omar Suleiman, who has close ties with Palestinian leaders of various factions⁵ in Gaza.

At a news briefing, State Department Deputy Spokesman Adam Ereli declined to give details of U.S. diplomatic contacts, and would not say, if U.S. appeals were a factor in an apparent Israeli decision Thursday to delay a planned ground invasion of northern Gaza.
 

Palestinian Hamas lawmakers, from right to left, Ahmed Abu Atoun, Mohammed Abu Teir, Mohammed Totach and minister for Jerusalem affairs Khaled Abu Arafa, are among officials rounded up by Israeli troops (May 30, 2006 photo)    
  
Ereli did say the United States and its G-8 partners have particular concerns about Israel's detention⁶ in Gaza of more than 60 members of Hamas, including several legislators and government ministers.

But he made clear the Bush administration blames Hamas for the crisis, and said it sees no distinction between the organizations' political leadership in Gaza and the West Bank, and its military wing, which was said to have been behind the soldier's abduction.

"People try to make those distinctions, and talk about that nuance," said Ereli. "But, you know, the fact of the matter is that Hamas is Hamas is Hamas. And the leadership of Hamas, whether they're in Gaza, or whether they're in Damascus, or whether they're in the West Bank, has to answer for the actions of their members."

Ereli said the Syrian government has relations with Hamas elements, and, as such, is definitely a party to the current crisis and has a responsibility to help bring it to a conclusion.

The United States has long-pressed Syria to expel so-called rejectionist Palestinian elements from Damascus, where Hamas military chief Khaled Mashaal has been openly operating for several years.

1 confrontation   

n.对抗，对峙，冲突

参考例句：

• We can't risk another confrontation with the union.我们不能冒再次同工会对抗的危险。
• After years of confrontation,they finally have achieved a modus vivendi.在对抗很长时间后，他们最后达成安宁生存的非正式协议。

2 joint   

adj.联合的，共同的；n.关节，接合处；v.连接，贴合

参考例句：

• I had a bad fall,which put my shoulder out of joint.我重重地摔了一跤，肩膀脫臼了。
• We wrote a letter in joint names.我们联名写了封信。

3 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。

4 diplomacy   

n.外交；外交手腕，交际手腕

参考例句：

• The talks have now gone into a stage of quiet diplomacy.会谈现在已经进入了“温和外交”阶段。
• This was done through the skill in diplomacy. 这是通过外交手腕才做到的。

5 factions   

组织中的小派别，派系( faction的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The gens also lives on in the "factions." 氏族此外还继续存在于“factions〔“帮”〕中。 来自英汉非文学 - 家庭、私有制和国家的起源
• rival factions within the administration 政府中的对立派别

6 detention   

n.滞留，停留；拘留，扣留；(教育)留下

参考例句：

• He was kept in detention by the police.他被警察扣留了。
• He was in detention in connection with the bribery affair.他因与贿赂事件有牵连而被拘留了。