2007年VOA标准英语-Radio Station Hopes to Bridge Israeli-Palestini

By Jim Teeple
Jerusalem
22 February 2007

A new radio station launched this week in the West Bank hopes to help bridge the divide between Palestinians and Israelis.  VOA's Jim Teeple reports, those behind the station say they had success with a similar venture in South Africa more than 20 years ago.  

RAM1 FM radio station employee works at the studio in the West Bank city of Ramallah" hspace="2" src="/upimg/allimg/070522/1053580.jpg" width="210" vspace="2" border="0" />

A RAM FM radio station employee works at the studio in the West Bank city of Ramallah

It has taken six months of test broadcasts, but RAM FM is now on the air, beaming a mix of music, news and talk shows from its studios in the West Bank city of Ramallah, just a few kilometers from Jerusalem.  

RAM FM is a different kind of radio station from what Palestinians and Israelis are used to.  News Director Andrew Bolton says the station is not just about playing music and selling ads.  He says his station wants Israelis and Palestinians to talk to each other.

"Well, the station's main purpose is to broadcast entertainment, music and informative² program[ing], and to promote peace and dialogue," he said.  "Above all, we are going to provide reliable and impartial³ news from within the Middle East."

Bolton says, unlike any other stations in the region, RAM FM will broadcast exclusively in English.  About 60 percent of Israelis and 40 percent of Palestinians speak English.  The station is targeting about 500,000 people who can hear its signal. 

Andrew Bolton says, for a station trying to bridge the Israeli-Palestinian divide, English is the only language to broadcast in.

"English is a neutral language in this region," he added.  "Most of the radio stations that broadcast from the Palestinian territories or Israel broadcast in either Hebrew or Arabic. We feel that English is the language of mediation⁴ and the language that is used in international peace talks and it shows that we are not taking a particular side."

RAM FM's main financial backer is Issie Kirsh, chairman of South Africa's Primedia Foundation and the man who started South Africa's Radio 702.  That station, which went on the air in 1980 in the South African homeland Bophuthatswana, is now a leading current affairs station in Johannesburg.  Radio 702 is credited with helping⁵ to bridge the racial divide in South Africa.

Andrew Bolton says his station is a business that will have to make money to stay on the air, but he hopes RAM FM might be able to serve as a neutral platform, where Israelis and Palestinians can speak to each other on talk shows, just like white and black South Africans do on Radio 702.

"We believe the situation here is different, but one thing that is common is that both Israelis and Palestinians do not have a mutual⁶ platform to talk to listen and to understand one another," he noted⁷.  "And we believe, as in South Africa, the majority of Palestinians and Israelis want peace and a good life for themselves and their families to live in security and harmony.  They want to ensure a decent future for their families and radio is the perfect medium to get people to first listen and then talk."

Bolton says RAM FM is broadcasting from Ramallah, because it could not get a license⁸ in Israel, where broadcast licenses⁹ are tightly controlled by the Israeli government.  He also says, despite the tensions in the region, RAM FM will stay apolitical.  The station's only message he says will be to promote peace.

1 ram   

(random access memory)随机存取存储器

参考例句：

• 512k RAM is recommended and 640k RAM is preferred.推荐配置为512K内存，640K内存则更佳。

2 informative   

adj.提供资料的，增进知识的

参考例句：

• The adverts are not very informative.这些广告并没有包含太多有用信息。
• This intriguing book is both thoughtful and informative.这本引人入胜的书既有思想性又富知识性。

3 impartial   

adj.(in,to)公正的，无偏见的

参考例句：

• He gave an impartial view of the state of affairs in Ireland.他对爱尔兰的事态发表了公正的看法。
• Careers officers offer impartial advice to all pupils.就业指导员向所有学生提供公正无私的建议。

4 mediation   

n.调解

参考例句：

• The dispute was settled by mediation of the third country. 这场争端通过第三国的斡旋而得以解决。
• The dispute was settled by mediation. 经调解使争端得以解决。

5 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。

6 mutual   

adj.相互的，彼此的；共同的，共有的

参考例句：

• We must pull together for mutual interest.我们必须为相互的利益而通力合作。
• Mutual interests tied us together.相互的利害关系把我们联系在一起。

7 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。

8 license   

n.执照，许可证，特许；v.许可，特许

参考例句：

• The foreign guest has a license on the person.这个外国客人随身携带执照。
• The driver was arrested for having false license plates on his car.司机由于使用假车牌而被捕。

9 licenses   

n.执照( license的名词复数 )v.批准，许可，颁发执照( license的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• Drivers have ten days' grace to renew their licenses. 驾驶员更换执照有10天的宽限期。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• Jewish firms couldn't get import or export licenses or raw materials. 犹太人的企业得不到进出口许可证或原料。 来自辞典例句