2006年VOA标准英语-Annan Visits Israel, Palestinian Territories

By Jim Teeple
Jerusalem
30 August 2006

U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan has held talks with Israeli and Palestinian leaders and urged Israel to lift its blockade of Lebanon and ease restrictions¹ in the Palestinian territories. Israel says Hezbollah must release two Israeli soldiers if the U.N. ceasefire in Lebanon is to take full effect.

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joint2 press conference" src="/upimg/allimg/070417/1432490.jpg" width="210" border="0" /> Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, right, walks past UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan as they arrive for a joint press conference

Kofi Annan met with the families of Israeli soldiers being held by Hezbollah, and held talks with Israeli and Palestinian leaders. Speaking at a joint news conference with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, Mr. Annan urged Israel to lift its air and sea blockade of Lebanon.

"I have been urging for the immediate³ lifting of the blockade on Lebanon. It is important - not only because of the effect it is having on the country, but it is also important to strengthen the democratic government of Lebanon," said Annan.

For his part, Ehud Olmert did not respond directly to Mr. Annan's plea, but he did say that Israel expects the full implementation⁴ of the U.N. ceasefire resolution to take place. The Israeli prime minister says that means Israel will not take any action until its two soldiers are released by Hezbollah militants⁶.

"The crucial test facing the international community is full implementation of Resolution 1701," noted⁸ Olmert. "Israel is fully⁹ committed to its obligations as described in the resolution. The most important aspect of implementing¹⁰ Resolution 1701, is the unconditional¹¹ release of the abducted¹² Israeli soldiers, Ehud Goldwasser and Eldad Regev."

Speaking in Beirut, a Hezbollah cabinet member in the Lebanese government said the militant⁵ group would not release the two soldiers unconditionally¹³, but only as part of a larger prisoner exchange.

Mr. Annan also held talks with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas where he voiced support for a Palestinian unity⁷ government made up of Hamas and Mr. Abbas' Fatah political movement.

The Palestinian Authority is undergoing a severe financial and political crisis and is unable to pay most civil servants because of a funding crisis - caused by the suspension of donor¹⁴ aid and customs revenue, because of the Hamas refusal to recognize Israel. Israel, the United States and the European Union have classified Hamas as a terrorist organization.

Speaking at joint news conference with President Abbas in the West Bank city of Ramallah, Mr. Annan called for an end to violence in the Palestinian territories, and for Israel to ease restrictions on crossing points in the Gaza Strip.

"Over 200 Palestinians have been killed since the end of June," Annan said. "This must stop immediately. I have made my feelings known in talks with Israeli officials. Beyond preserving life we have to sustain life. The closure of Gaza must be lifted. The crossing points must be opened, not just to allow goods in, but to allow Palestinian exports out as well."

Israel says it has closed the main crossing points in and out of Gaza on a periodic basis because of the threat of terrorism.

Meanwhile, at least seven Palestinians were killed in air strikes and clashes with Israeli forces in the Gaza Strip. Israeli troops have been carrying out a major military operation in the Gaza Strip since late June, when Palestinian militants abducted an Israeli soldier on a border post raid.

1 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

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 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 implementation   

n.实施，贯彻

参考例句：

• Implementation of the program is now well underway.这一项目的实施现在行情看好。

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 militants   

激进分子，好斗分子( militant的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The militants have been sporadically fighting the government for years. 几年来，反叛分子一直对政府实施零星的战斗。
• Despite the onslaught, Palestinian militants managed to fire off rockets. 尽管如此，巴勒斯坦的激进分子仍然发射导弹。

7 unity   

n.团结，联合，统一；和睦，协调

参考例句：

• When we speak of unity,we do not mean unprincipled peace.所谓团结，并非一团和气。
• We must strengthen our unity in the face of powerful enemies.大敌当前，我们必须加强团结。

8 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。

9 fully   

adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地

参考例句：

• The doctor asked me to breathe in,then to breathe out fully.医生让我先吸气，然后全部呼出。
• They soon became fully integrated into the local community.他们很快就完全融入了当地人的圈子。

10 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

11 unconditional   

adj.无条件的，无限制的，绝对的

参考例句：

• The victorious army demanded unconditional surrender.胜方要求敌人无条件投降。
• My love for all my children is unconditional.我对自己所有孩子的爱都是无条件的。

12 abducted   

劫持，诱拐( abduct的过去式和过去分词 )； 使（肢体等）外展

参考例句：

• Detectives have not ruled out the possibility that she was abducted. 侦探尚未排除她被绑架的可能性。
• The kid was abducted at the gate of kindergarten. 那小孩在幼儿园大门口被绑架走了。

13 unconditionally   

adv.无条件地

参考例句：

• All foreign troops must be withdrawn immediately and unconditionally. 所有外国军队必须立即无条件地撤出。
• It makes things very awkward to have your girls going back unconditionally just now! 你们现在是无条件上工，真糟糕！ 来自子夜部分

14 donor   

n.捐献者；赠送人；(组织、器官等的)供体

参考例句：

• In these cases,the recipient usually takes care of the donor afterwards.在这类情况下，接受捐献者以后通常会照顾捐赠者。
• The Doctor transplanted the donor's heart to Mike's chest cavity.医生将捐赠者的心脏移植进麦克的胸腔。