2006年VOA标准英语-Bush Meets With Palestinian President

By Paula Wolfson
New York
20 September 2006

President Bush (R) meets with Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas in New York, Sept 20, 2006

President Bush has reaffirmed his support for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, calling him a man of peace.  They met as members of the diplomatic quartet on the Middle East gathered for talks on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly.

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President Bush says Mahmoud Abbas is a man with a vision of peace, who can help make the plan for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian dispute a reality.

"I can't thank you enough for the courage you have shown," Mr. Bush says. "I assure you our government wants to work with you so that you are capable of delivering the vision that so many Palestinians hope for and that is a society in which they can raise their children in peace and hope."

But the January victory in Palestinian elections by the militant¹ group Hamas has weakened President Abbas.

America and the other members of the Quartet - the European Union, Russia and the United Nations - have refused to deal with the Hamas-led government.  And while humanitarian² aid is continuing, direct assistance to the Palestinian Authority has been suspended until Hamas agrees to recognize Israel and reject violence.

The Palestinian president is pushing the creation of a national unity⁴ government between his Fatah faction⁵ and Hamas as a way to bring the boycott⁶ to an end.   As his meeting with Mr. Bush drew to a close, he told reporters that his people need help. 

"Mr. President, we look forward to your support and your help and your aid because we are in dire³ need of your help and support," Mr. Abbas says.

Mr. Abbas said his people want peace, despite the election of Hamas.   He told Mr. Bush the Palestinians will be faithful and true to peace, and vowed⁷ he would not be disappointed. 

1 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。

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 dire   

adj.可怕的，悲惨的，阴惨的，极端的

参考例句：

• There were dire warnings about the dangers of watching too much TV.曾经有人就看电视太多的危害性提出严重警告。
• We were indeed in dire straits.But we pulled through.那时我们的困难真是大极了，但是我们渡过了困难。

4 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。

5 faction   

n.宗派，小集团；派别；派系斗争

参考例句：

• Faction and self-interest appear to be the norm.派系之争和自私自利看来非常普遍。
• I now understood clearly that I was caught between the king and the Bunam's faction.我现在完全明白自己已陷入困境，在国王与布纳姆集团之间左右为难。

6 boycott   

n./v.(联合)抵制，拒绝参与

参考例句：

• We put the production under a boycott.我们联合抵制该商品。
• The boycott lasts a year until the Victoria board permitsreturn.这个抗争持续了一年直到维多利亚教育局妥协为止。

7 vowed   

起誓，发誓（vow的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• He vowed quite solemnly that he would carry out his promise. 他非常庄严地发誓要实现他的诺言。
• I vowed to do more of the cooking myself. 我发誓自己要多动手做饭。