2007年VOA标准英语-Olmert, King Abdullah Discuss Arab Peace Initia

By Robert Berger
Jerusalem
15 May 2007

Israeli and Jordanian leaders have held a summit in Jordan's Red Sea resort of Aqaba in a bid to advance the peace process. As Robert Berger reports from VOA's Jerusalem bureau, an Arab land-for-peace proposal topped the agenda.

King Abdullah of Jordan (l) talks to Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert in his palace in Jordanian Red Sea resort of Aqaba, 15 May 2007

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert told Jordan's King Abdullah that Israel is ready to negotiate on the Arab peace initiative.

"I invite these 22 leaders of the Arab nations that are ready to make that kind of peace with Israel to come wherever they want, to sit down with us and start to talk and to present their ideas," he said.

The Arab initiative calls for Israel to withdraw to the 1967 borders in exchange for full diplomatic ties with all Arab states.

While Mr. Olmert is ready to discuss the plan, he rejects key points. Israel says it will never dismantle¹ all West Bank settlements or withdraw from Jerusalem's Old City, home to the holiest places in Judaism. Israel also rejects the so-called "Right of Return" of millions of Palestinian refugees and their descendants to their former homes in Israel.

Since all of these issues are unacceptable for Israel, Israeli analyst² Dore Gold does not see a breakthrough any time soon.

"I do not believe the chances are very good at this point," he said. "The Arab states are going to want significant progress by Israel to move toward their agenda of full withdrawal³ before they are going to begin giving us any significant upgrading of relations."

Gold said Mr. Olmert's talks with King Abdullah enabled Israel to make its positions clear.

"The Arab states, they have a very specific agenda," he said. "And what is very important in such a meeting is to clarify an Israeli agenda."

Jordanian officials say the King told Mr. Olmert that if Israel wants to advance the peace process, it must first take concrete steps to improve relations with the Palestinians. That would include halting the expansion of West Bank settlements and easing economic sanctions on the Palestinian Authority.

Mr. Olmert responded that progress on the Palestinian track is not possible as long as the Islamic militant⁴ group Hamas is the senior partner in a coalition⁵ government. Hamas has been crippled by international sanctions because it refuses to renounce⁶ violence and recognize Israel.

1 dismantle   

vt.拆开，拆卸；废除，取消

参考例句：

• He asked for immediate help from the United States to dismantle the warheads.他请求美国立即提供援助，拆除这批弹头。
• The mower firmly refused to mow,so I decided to dismantle it.修完后割草机还是纹丝不动，于是，我决定把它拆开。

2 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。

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 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 coalition   

n.结合体，同盟，结合，联合

参考例句：

• The several parties formed a coalition.这几个政党组成了政治联盟。
• Coalition forces take great care to avoid civilian casualties.联盟军队竭尽全力避免造成平民伤亡。

6 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。