2006年VOA标准英语-Hezbollah Reveals Political and Sectarian Split

By Peter Fedynsky
Washington, DC
26 July 2006
 
watch Middle East report

The Israeli assault in Lebanon has prompted varying degrees of praise and criticism of Hezbollah throughout the Middle East. Hezbollah is the organization accused of provoking the conflict. 

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A recent pro-Hezbollah demonstration¹ in Amman, Jordan
  
A pro-Hezbollah demonstration in Amman, Jordan reflects popular sentiment throughout the Middle East. 

However, Hamzah Mansoor, the head of Jordan's Islamic Front Party, suggests a split over Hezbollah between average citizens and the governments of several Arab countries. 

Hamzah Mansoor  
  
"This is the message of the Jordanian people for the resistance in Lebanon and Palestine. The nation is with Hezbollah and with the Lebanese, Palestinian and Iraqi people. It's the time for the Arab governments to reflect the will of their peoples, to reconcile with them, and to abolish all the unjust treaties with the Zionist enemy."

The governments of Jordan, Egypt and Saudi Arabia have not expressed support for Hezbollah. But they have condemned² the Israeli assault on Lebanon.  In a meeting with President Bush on Sunday, Saudi Foreign Minister Saud al-Faisal called for an immediate³ ceasefire. "We requested a ceasefire to allow for the cessation of hostility⁴, that would allow for the building of the forces of Lebanon in order to establish over its sovereignty, over the whole of its territory. That is the important thing. There is only one problem. In this crisis, it is Lebanon, and the inability of Lebanon to exercise its sovereignty over its territory."

The Lebanese government and armed forces have been unable to control Hezbollah, whose private army is considered stronger than Lebanon's.  Members of the organization are also Shia Muslims whose loyalties⁵ are divided between their political identity as citizens of Lebanon and their religious affiliation⁶ with Shi'ites in Iran.

 
David Schenker
  
Middle East expert David Schenker says the governments of Jordan, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia -- which practice Sunni Islam -- see Iran as a threat.

"A victory of Hezbollah is not in the interests of King Abdullah. It's not in the interests of Mubarek. It's not in the interests of Saudi Arabia.  We've got the Sunni-Shia overlay and you also have the Iran factor, which is that all of this benefit accrues⁷ to Iran."

The people and government of Iran are united in their support for Hezbollah and condemnation⁸ of Israel.  Iran is not an Arab nation.  Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad condemns⁹ the leaders of Arab countries neighboring Lebanon as "cowards".  

 
Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki
  
Shi'ites are in the majority in Iraq. Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki has denounced the Israeli assault in Lebanon. That puts him at odds¹⁰ with the United States, which has designated Hezbollah as a terrorist group. "I am afraid that what's going on in Lebanon would be a great push towards fundamentalism and also a message, a negative one, to all of those who want to follow the course of peace depending on international resolutions. These practices will not give a chance in this direction but we will again go back to zero, to reactions and counter-reactions."

Middle East expert Schenker notes that al-Maliki's position is determined¹¹ by his religious identity.

"Being a country that has a very high percentage of Shia, it's also difficult for him to take a position that is otherwise than being supportive particularly of the Shia, who are bearing the brunt of the Israeli campaign against Hezbollah."

Schenker says the people and governments of the Middle East are all concerned about the scope of the humanitarian¹² disaster and the civilian¹³ casualties in Lebanon -- no matter what they think of Hezbollah.

1 demonstration   

n.表明，示范，论证，示威

参考例句：

• His new book is a demonstration of his patriotism.他写的新书是他的爱国精神的证明。
• He gave a demonstration of the new technique then and there.他当场表演了这种新的操作方法。

2 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。

3 immediate   

adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的

参考例句：

• His immediate neighbours felt it their duty to call.他的近邻认为他们有责任去拜访。
• We declared ourselves for the immediate convocation of the meeting.我们主张立即召开这个会议。

4 hostility   

n.敌对，敌意；抵制［pl.］交战，战争

参考例句：

• There is open hostility between the two leaders.两位领导人表现出公开的敌意。
• His hostility to your plan is well known.他对你的计划所持的敌意是众所周知的。

5 loyalties   

n.忠诚( loyalty的名词复数 )；忠心；忠于…感情；要忠于…的强烈感情

参考例句：

• an intricate network of loyalties and relationships 忠诚与义气构成的盘根错节的网络
• Rows with one's in-laws often create divided loyalties. 与姻亲之间的矛盾常常让人两面为难。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 affiliation   

n.联系，联合

参考例句：

• There is no affiliation between our organization and theirs,even though our names are similar.尽管两个组织的名称相似，但我们之间并没有关系。
• The kidnappers had no affiliation with any militant group.这些绑架者与任何军事组织都没有紧密联系。

7 accrues   

v.增加( accrue的第三人称单数 )；（通过自然增长）产生；获得；（使钱款、债务）积累

参考例句：

• If you put money in the bank, interest accrues. 如你将钱存于银行，则自然生息。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
• Interest accrues on a bank accout. 银行账户的利息在增长。 来自《简明英汉词典》

8 condemnation   

n.谴责; 定罪

参考例句：

• There was widespread condemnation of the invasion. 那次侵略遭到了人们普遍的谴责。
• The jury's condemnation was a shock to the suspect. 陪审团宣告有罪使嫌疑犯大为震惊。

9 condemns   

v.（通常因道义上的原因而）谴责( condemn的第三人称单数 )；宣判；宣布…不能使用；迫使…陷于不幸的境地

参考例句：

• Her widowhood condemns her to a lonely old age. 守寡使她不得不过着孤独的晚年生活。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The public opinion condemns prostitution. 公众舆论遣责卖淫。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

10 odds   

n.让步，机率，可能性，比率；胜败优劣之别

参考例句：

• The odds are 5 to 1 that she will win.她获胜的机会是五比一。
• Do you know the odds of winning the lottery once?你知道赢得一次彩票的几率多大吗？

11 determined   

adj.坚定的；有决心的

参考例句：

• I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。
• He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。

12 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。

13 civilian   

adj.平民的，民用的，民众的

参考例句：

• There is no reliable information about civilian casualties.关于平民的伤亡还没有确凿的信息。
• He resigned his commission to take up a civilian job.他辞去军职而从事平民工作。