2007年VOA标准英语-Egypt, Jordan, Israel Discuss Arab Peace Initia

By Challiss McDonough
Cairo
10 May 2007

The foreign ministers of Jordan, Egypt and Israel have met in Cairo to discuss an Arab initiative for Middle East peace. It is the first meeting between Tel Aviv and the members of the Arab League "working group" tasked with negotiating with Israel. VOA Correspondent Challiss McDonough has more from Cairo.

From right: Israel's Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, her Egyptian counterpart Ahmed Aboul Gheit and Jordan's Foreign Minister Abdel-Ilah al-Khatib, Cairo, 10 May 2007

It was the first time that Jordan and Egypt have formally briefed Israel on the recently re-launched Arab peace initiative.

Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni called the meeting "important" and "historic." Her Jordanian counterpart, Abdel-Ilah al-Khatib said the Arab League is hoping to breathe new life into the Israeli-Palestinian peace process.

"Today's meeting was beneficial," he said. "It allowed us to express the Arab position and discuss the Israeli position. We hope that this leads to tangible¹ results that could be positively² reflected on the Palestinian-Israeli track and achieving comprehensive peace in the region."

Jordan and Israel are the only two Arab states that have already made peace with Israel and established full diplomatic relations, so meetings between them are not unusual. But in these talks, for the first time, the Jordanian and Egyptian foreign ministers represented not their own governments, but the Arab League.

The Arab League has asked the two countries to work on convincing Israel to accept the Arab peace initiative recently revived at a special summit in Saudi Arabia.

The Arab proposal offers Israel peace and normal relations with all Arab countries in exchange for Israeli withdrawal³ from all lands taken during the 1967 Arab-Israeli war.

Israel rejected the deal when it was first proposed five years ago, but has recently shown more interest in it and said it might be a starting point for negotiations⁴.

Livni said the Arab world has "an important role" to play in moving toward peace between the Israelis and Palestinians. But she also said it would be a supporting role, and the main peace negotiations would be the bilateral⁵ ones between the Israelis and the Palestinians.

"I would like to say clearly that it is not our policy, nor our goal to control the Palestinian life," she said. "On the other hand we are facing terror on a daily basis and when it comes to our ability to open passages and so on, on the other hand we have a responsibility to the life of Israeli civilians⁶. So, this is the equation, but I truly believe if we will be determined⁷ enough to work it out we will find a solution."

Livni did not mention other regional issues, such as the return of Palestinian refugees or Israel's territorial⁸ disputes with Syria and Lebanon. The Arab League representatives said they would not be negotiating with Israel on behalf of those parties. They said the appropriate role for the Arab League is setting the stage and creating the right atmosphere to push the peace process forward.

Earlier in the day, Livni met with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak to discuss a range of issues, including security in the Gaza Strip and along the Gaza-Egypt border.

1 tangible   

adj.有形的，可触摸的，确凿的，实际的

参考例句：

• The policy has not yet brought any tangible benefits.这项政策还没有带来任何实质性的好处。
• There is no tangible proof.没有确凿的证据。

2 positively   

adv.明确地，断然，坚决地；实在，确实

参考例句：

• She was positively glowing with happiness.她满脸幸福。
• The weather was positively poisonous.这天气着实讨厌。

3 withdrawal   

n.取回，提款；撤退，撤军；收回，撤销

参考例句：

• The police were forced to make a tactical withdrawal.警方被迫进行战术撤退。
• They insisted upon a withdrawal of the statement and a public apology.他们坚持要收回那些话并公开道歉。

4 negotiations   

协商( negotiation的名词复数 )； 谈判； 完成（难事）； 通过

参考例句：

• negotiations for a durable peace 为持久和平而进行的谈判
• Negotiations have failed to establish any middle ground. 谈判未能达成任何妥协。

5 bilateral   

adj.双方的，两边的，两侧的

参考例句：

• They have been negotiating a bilateral trade deal.他们一直在商谈一项双边贸易协定。
• There was a wide gap between the views of the two statesmen on the bilateral cooperation.对双方合作的问题，两位政治家各自所持的看法差距甚大。

6 civilians   

平民，百姓( civilian的名词复数 )； 老百姓

参考例句：

• the bloody massacre of innocent civilians 对无辜平民的血腥屠杀
• At least 300 civilians are unaccounted for after the bombing raids. 遭轰炸袭击之后，至少有300名平民下落不明。

7 determined   

adj.坚定的；有决心的

参考例句：

• I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。
• He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。

8 territorial   

adj.领土的，领地的

参考例句：

• The country is fighting to preserve its territorial integrity.该国在为保持领土的完整而进行斗争。
• They were not allowed to fish in our territorial waters.不允许他们在我国领海捕鱼。