2007年VOA标准英语-Jordan Urges Palestinian Unity Government to Ac

By Robert Berger
Jerusalem
24 February 2007

Jordan's King Abdullah has called on the new Palestinian national unity¹ government to accept international demands for recognition. As Robert Berger reports from VOA's Jerusalem bureau, the monarch² also warned that time is running out to reach an agreement on a two state solution of the Middle East crisis.

King Abdullah II of Jordan (r), meets with U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice in Amman, Jordan, 20 Feb 2007

King Abdullah says there is broad agreement among Arab states that the Palestinian unity government must comply with the demands of the Quartet of world powers mediating³ the Middle East conflict. 

"The Arab countries are also expecting the new Palestinian government to adhere to the policies set out in the Quartet," he said.

The Quartet includes the United States, European Union, United Nations and Russia. It has set down three conditions for lifting crippling sanctions on the Islamic militant⁴ group Hamas, which heads the Palestinian Authority: Hamas must recognize Israel, renounce⁵ violence and accept previous peace agreements.

Even though Hamas agreed to share power with Palestinian moderates, led by President Mahmoud Abbas, the group rejects demands to recognize Israel and renounce violence. In an interview on Israel's Channel 2 television, King Abdullah said that is unacceptable.

"There's international common ground, not just Western, but also Arab and to an extent Muslim, that believe that there have to be certain criteria⁶ that the new government has to accept, if we're going to move the process forward," he added.

The statement appeared to mark a change in course, because, until now, Arab states have been highly critical of western sanctions on Hamas. It is an indication that moderate Arab countries will not side-step the international embargo⁷ by financing a Hamas government with a radical⁸ agenda.

King Abdullah said both Israel and the Palestinians need to revive the stalled peace process before it is too late.

"We find ourselves at this very important crossroads, and what I do feel really is the last opportunity for peace for all of us," he noted⁹.  "The opportunities that we have are diminishing; the frequency of conflict is rising rapidly in the Middle East."

The king said the alternative to making peace is disaster for the entire region.

1 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。

2 monarch   

n.帝王，君主，最高统治者

参考例句：

• The monarch's role is purely ceremonial.君主纯粹是个礼仪职位。
• I think myself happier now than the greatest monarch upon earth.我觉得这个时候比世界上什么帝王都快乐。

3 mediating   

调停，调解，斡旋( mediate的现在分词 )； 居间促成； 影响…的发生； 使…可能发生

参考例句：

• So many factors are mediating. 如此众多的因素在起作用。
• The contrast in mediating noted in the sitting room. 客厅中注重了调和中的对比。

4 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。

5 renounce   

v.放弃；拒绝承认，宣布与…断绝关系

参考例句：

• She decided to renounce the world and enter a convent.她决定弃绝尘世去当修女。
• It was painful for him to renounce his son.宣布与儿子脱离关系对他来说是很痛苦的。

6 criteria   

n.标准

参考例句：

• The main criterion is value for money.主要的标准是钱要用得划算。
• There are strict criteria for inclusion in the competition.参赛的标准很严格。

7 embargo   

n.禁运（令）；vt.对...实行禁运，禁止（通商）

参考例句：

• This country put an oil embargo on an enemy country.该国对敌国实行石油禁运。
• During the war,they laid an embargo on commerce with enemy countries.在战争期间，他们禁止与敌国通商。

8 radical   

n.激进份子，原子团，根号；adj.根本的，激进的，彻底的

参考例句：

• The patient got a radical cure in the hospital.病人在医院得到了根治。
• She is radical in her demands.她的要求十分偏激。

9 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。