2007年VOA标准英语-Tensions Mount Over Jerusalem Archeological Sit

By Jim Teeple
Jerusalem
06 February 2007

Under a heavy police presence, Israeli archeologists are removing tons of rock and debris¹ from a site that lies next to a walkway leading to Jerusalem's al-Aqsa Mosque² and the Dome³ of the Rock. VOA's Jim Teeple reports the dig has infuriated Muslims who say it could damage Islamic holy structures.

Al-Aqsa mosque (file photo)

Tensions were high in Jerusalem's old city as bulldozers began removing debris from the base of a wooden pedestrian ramp⁴ that allows people to walk from near the base of the Wailing⁵ Wall up to the compound of the Dome of the Rock and al-Aqsa Mosques⁶.

Israeli archeologists want to replace the wooden pedestrian ramp with a new more permanent ramp. But the project involves the removal of tons earth and archeological debris that lie under a section of a centuries-old walkway to the Dome of the Rock compound that is no longer used. Islamic clerical authorities say the excavation⁷ will destroy the old walkway, which they say belongs to the mosque complex, and could result in damage to the structure of the al-Aqsa Mosque, one of Islam's holiest shrines⁸.

Gideon Avni, the director of excavations⁹ for Israel's Antiquities¹⁰ Authority, says the work now being carried out is more than 50 meters away from the Dome of the Rock compound and there is no danger of the al-Aqsa Mosque being damaged in the process.

"This is not the first time that such an allegation has been made," he noted¹¹. "For the last 40 years all the archeological excavations that were conducted around the Temple Mount, not in the Temple Mount, were accused of damaging the walls of the temple. These walls were constructed 2,000 years ago by King Herod. They are firmly based on the bedrock. Nothing on earth except a huge earthquake will damage them."

The massive wall that buttresses¹² the Dome of the Rock compound is the Wailing Wall, the holiest site in Judaism. The Dome of the Rock with its two mosques is where Muslims believe the prophet Mohammed ascended¹³ to heaven. Jews venerate¹⁴ the site as the Temple Mount, the location of their two biblical temples.

Israel captured the entire area from Jordan in the 1967 war, but allowed Jordan to maintain its role as custodian¹⁵ of the two mosques. Jordanian authorities have expressed concerns about the excavation as well.

Ibrahim Sarsur, the Head of the Islamic Movement in Israel and a former member of Israel's parliament or Knesset, says the current excavation is designed to diminish the Muslim presence in Jerusalem.

"The excavations are continuing. The destruction of Islamic sanctuaries¹⁶ in this holy place is continuing," he said. "What they are doing here is a part of what the Israelis really want to achieve in this place, which is to simply demolish¹⁷ the Islamic identity of this place."

The office of Israel's Prime Minister Ehud Olmert issued a statement saying the construction of the new pedestrian bridge would have no impact on the holy site.

Palestinians clashed with Israeli troops in the West Bank city of Bethlehem and there were scuffles between Israeli police and Moslem¹⁸ residents of East Jerusalem as the excavation took place.

More than 2,000 police were stationed at key points in Jerusalem's old city to prevent outbreaks of violence. Ten years ago, when Israeli archeologists opened a tunnel that runs alongside the compound, 80 people were killed in subsequent rioting. In 2000, a controversial visit to the al-Aqsa mosque by Ariel Sharon led to widespread rioting which subsequently developed into the second Intifada.

1 debris   

n.瓦砾堆，废墟，碎片

参考例句：

• After the bombing there was a lot of debris everywhere.轰炸之后到处瓦砾成堆。
• Bacteria sticks to food debris in the teeth,causing decay.细菌附着在牙缝中的食物残渣上，导致蛀牙。

2 mosque   

n.清真寺

参考例句：

• The mosque is a activity site and culture center of Muslim religion.清真寺为穆斯林宗教活动场所和文化中心。
• Some years ago the clock in the tower of the mosque got out of order.几年前，清真寺钟楼里的大钟失灵了。

3 dome   

n.圆屋顶，拱顶

参考例句：

• The dome was supported by white marble columns.圆顶由白色大理石柱支撑着。
• They formed the dome with the tree's branches.他们用树枝搭成圆屋顶。

4 ramp   

n.暴怒，斜坡，坡道；vi.作恐吓姿势，暴怒，加速；vt.加速

参考例句：

• That driver drove the car up the ramp.那司机将车开上了斜坡。
• The factory don't have that capacity to ramp up.这家工厂没有能力加速生产。

5 wailing   

v.哭叫，哀号( wail的现在分词 )；沱

参考例句：

• A police car raced past with its siren wailing. 一辆警车鸣着警报器飞驰而过。
• The little girl was wailing miserably. 那小女孩难过得号啕大哭。

6 mosques   

清真寺； 伊斯兰教寺院，清真寺； 清真寺，伊斯兰教寺院( mosque的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Why make us believe that this tunnel runs underneath the mosques? 为什么要让我们相信这条隧洞是在清真寺下？
• The city's three biggest mosques, long fallen into disrepair, have been renovated. 城里最大的三座清真寺，过去年久失修，现在已经修复。

7 excavation   

n.挖掘，发掘；被挖掘之地

参考例句：

• The bad weather has hung up the work of excavation.天气不好耽误了挖掘工作。
• The excavation exposed some ancient ruins.这次挖掘暴露出一些古遗迹。

8 shrines   

圣地，圣坛，神圣场所( shrine的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• All three structures dated to the third century and were tentatively identified as shrines. 这3座建筑都建于3 世纪，并且初步鉴定为神庙。
• Their palaces and their shrines are tombs. 它们的宫殿和神殿成了墓穴。

9 excavations   

n.挖掘( excavation的名词复数 )；开凿；开凿的洞穴（或山路等）；（发掘出来的）古迹

参考例句：

• The excavations are open to the public. 发掘现场对公众开放。
• This year's excavations may reveal ancient artifacts. 今年的挖掘可能会发现史前古器物。 来自辞典例句

10 antiquities   

n.古老( antiquity的名词复数 )；古迹；古人们；古代的风俗习惯

参考例句：

• There is rest and healing in the contemplation of antiquities. 欣赏古物有休息和疗养之功。 来自辞典例句
• Bertha developed a fine enthusiasm for the antiquities of London. 伯沙对伦敦的古迹产生了很大的热情。 来自辞典例句

11 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。

12 buttresses   

n.扶壁，扶垛( buttress的名词复数 )v.用扶壁支撑，加固( buttress的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• Flying buttresses were constructed of vertical masonry piers with arches curving out from them like fingers. 飞梁结构，灵感来自于带拱形的垂直石质桥墩，外形像弯曲的手指。 来自互联网
• GOTHIC_BUTTRESSES_DESC;Gothic construction, particularly in its later phase, is characterized by lightness and soaring spaces. 哥特式建筑，尤其是其发展的后期，以轻灵和高耸的尖顶为标志。 来自互联网

13 ascended   

v.上升，攀登( ascend的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• He has ascended into heaven. 他已经升入了天堂。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The climbers slowly ascended the mountain. 爬山运动员慢慢地登上了这座山。 来自《简明英汉词典》

14 venerate   

v.尊敬，崇敬，崇拜

参考例句：

• They came to venerate him as a symbolic figure.他们把他当作偶像来崇拜。
• We were taught to venerate the glorious example of our heroes and martyrs.我们受到教导要崇敬英雄、烈士的光辉榜样。

15 custodian   

n.保管人，监护人；公共建筑看守

参考例句：

• Benitez believes his custodian is among the top five in world football.贝尼特斯坚信他的门将是当今足坛最出色的五人之一。
• When his father died his uncle became his legal custodian.他父亲死后，他叔叔成了他的法定监护人。

16 sanctuaries   

n.避难所( sanctuary的名词复数 )；庇护；圣所；庇护所

参考例句：

• The designation of special marine reserves and marine sanctuaries shall be subject to the State Council for approval. 海洋特别保护区、海上自然保护区的确定，须经国务院批准。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• After 1965 he acquiesced when they established sanctuaries on that soil. 1965年以后，他默认了他们在那块土地上建立庇护所。 来自辞典例句

17 demolish   

v.拆毁(建筑物等)，推翻(计划、制度等)

参考例句：

• They're going to demolish that old building.他们将拆毁那座旧建筑物。
• He was helping to demolish an underground garage when part of the roof collapsed.他当时正在帮忙拆除一个地下汽车库，屋顶的一部份突然倒塌。

18 Moslem   

n.回教徒，穆罕默德信徒；adj.回教徒的，回教的

参考例句：

• Moslem women used to veil their faces before going into public.信回教的妇女出门之前往往用面纱把脸遮起来。
• If possible every Moslem must make the pilgrimage to Mecca once in his life.如有可能，每个回教徒一生中必须去麦加朝觐一次。