2007年VOA标准英语-Israeli Forces Place Nablus Under Curfew, Pales

By Robert Berger
Jerusalem
25 February 2007

 
Palestinian youths throw stones toward Israeli soldiers, not seen, during an Israeli army operation in the West Bank City of Nablus, 25 Feb 2007

Israeli forces have raided the biggest Palestinian town in the West Bank. As Robert Berger reports from VOA's Jerusalem bureau, the Palestinians are accusing Israel of torpedoing¹ efforts to get the stalled peace process back on track.

Israeli troops in dozens of jeeps and armored vehicles stormed into the West Bank town of Nablus, placing about 50,000 Palestinians under curfew. Soldiers conducted house-to-house searches, and residents were ordered to stay indoors.

The raid focused on the Casbah, or Old City, a densely² populated area of narrow alleyways, apartment buildings and markets.

The army said the operation could last several days and is aimed at uncovering bomb factories and arresting wanted Palestinian militants³. The incursion comes a few days after a would-be suicide bomber⁴ was captured near Tel Aviv.

"We will defend our citizens and we will pinpoint⁵ against all of those terror cells in the West Bank who try to attack us," said Israeli spokeswoman Miri Eisen.

Palestinian officials accused Israel of harming the efforts of moderate President Mahmoud Abbas to revive peace talks.

 
Saeb Erekat (26 Jan 2007)
"We condemn⁶ this Israeli raid. It is absolutely uncalled for. We do not need to go back to the cycle of violence," said Palestinian legislator Saeb Erekat.

But Israel has repeatedly complained that Mr. Abbas has failed to crack down on militants operating from territory under his control. Israeli analyst⁷ Dan Schueftan says that leaves Israel with little choice.

"Israel will have to continue and take military action just to keep the level of terrorism below the level that is insufferable from an Israeli point of view," said Schueftan.

The army says it launched the Nablus operation after receiving intelligence information that terrorists in the city were planning a wave of suicide bombings in Israeli cities.

1 torpedoing   

用爆破筒爆破

参考例句：

• We all accused the union of torpedoing the negotiation. 我们都谴责工会破坏谈判。

2 densely   

ad.密集地；浓厚地

参考例句：

• A grove of trees shadowed the house densely. 树丛把这幢房子遮蔽得很密实。
• We passed through miles of densely wooded country. 我们穿过好几英里茂密的林地。

3 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。

4 bomber   

n.轰炸机，投弹手，投掷炸弹者

参考例句：

• He flew a bomber during the war.他在战时驾驶轰炸机。
• Detectives hunting the London bombers will be keen to interview him.追查伦敦爆炸案凶犯的侦探们急于对他进行讯问。

5 pinpoint   

vt.准确地确定；用针标出…的精确位置

参考例句：

• It is difficult to pinpoint when water problems of the modern age began.很难准确地指出，现代用水的问题是什么时候出现的。
• I could pinpoint his precise location on a map.我能在地图上指明他的准确位置。

6 condemn   

vt.谴责，指责；宣判(罪犯)，判刑

参考例句：

• Some praise him,whereas others condemn him.有些人赞扬他，而有些人谴责他。
• We mustn't condemn him on mere suppositions.我们不可全凭臆测来指责他。

7 analyst   

n.分析家，化验员；心理分析学家

参考例句：

• What can you contribute to the position of a market analyst?你有什么技能可有助于市场分析员的职务？
• The analyst is required to interpolate values between standards.分析人员需要在这些标准中插入一些值。