2007年VOA标准英语-Israel Steps up Air Strikes on Palestinian Mili

By Robert Berger
Jerusalem
26 May 2007

Israeli air strikes against Palestinian militants² in the Gaza Strip are now in their tenth day. At least five militants have been killed. But as Robert Berger reports from VOA's Jerusalem bureau, ceasefire efforts are continuing.

Palestinians search for bodies after an Israeli missile strike on a Hamas base in Gaza City, 26 May 2007

Israel launched a series of air strikes on targets of the Islamic militant¹ group Hamas across Gaza. In one attack, missiles landed near the home of Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh. Trailers used by Mr. Haniyeh's bodyguards³ were hit, but he was not hurt.

Later, Israeli aircraft fired missiles at five Hamas facilities, just minutes apart. The targets included a Hamas military compound and training bases.

In the West Bank, Israeli troops seized a Hamas cabinet minister, one of more than 30 senior Palestinian officials arrested this week.

The raids are retaliation⁴ for Hamas rocket attacks. The army says Palestinians have fired 220 rockets across the Gaza border since May 15.

"Members of the Hamas should know that if they claim responsibility for the attacks, the recent attacks near the Gaza Strip, they will have to bear the consequences," said Israeli spokesman Aviv Shiron.

Moderate Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, who shares power in a coalition⁵ government led by Hamas, is trying to broker⁶ a ceasefire. He has urged Palestinian militants to stop firing rockets for a month, during which time he would seek a broader truce⁷ with Israel, including all the Palestinian territories.

The previous truce that lasted five months and collapsed⁸ 10 days ago only included Gaza.

Palestinian analyst⁹ Wadia Abu Nasser says that gave militants an excuse to fire rockets at Israel.

"In order not to offer any pretext¹⁰ to those who want to damage or to harm the ceasefire, one step [that] should be done immediately is to declare a total ceasefire between the Israelis and the Palestinians in the West Bank as well as in [the] Gaza Strip," said Nasser.

Hamas says it is considering Mr. Abbas's proposal. But Israel rejects extending the ceasefire to the West Bank, saying army raids there prevent Palestinian suicide bombings in Israeli cities.

1 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。

2 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。

3 bodyguards   

n.保镖，卫士，警卫员( bodyguard的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Brooks came to Jim's office accompanied—like always—by his two bodyguards. 和往常一样，在两名保镖的陪同下，布鲁克斯去吉姆的办公室。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Three of his bodyguards were injured in the attack. 在这次袭击事件中，他有3名保镖受了伤。 来自辞典例句

4 retaliation   

n.报复，反击

参考例句：

• retaliation against UN workers 对联合国工作人员的报复
• He never said a single word in retaliation. 他从未说过一句反击的话。 来自《简明英汉词典》

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 broker   

n.中间人，经纪人；v.作为中间人来安排

参考例句：

• He baited the broker by promises of higher commissions.他答应给更高的佣金来引诱那位经纪人。
• I'm a real estate broker.我是不动产经纪人。

7 truce   

n.休战，(争执，烦恼等的)缓和；v.以停战结束

参考例句：

• The hot weather gave the old man a truce from rheumatism.热天使这位老人暂时免受风湿病之苦。
• She had thought of flying out to breathe the fresh air in an interval of truce.她想跑出去呼吸一下休战期间的新鲜空气。

8 collapsed   

adj.倒塌的

参考例句：

• Jack collapsed in agony on the floor. 杰克十分痛苦地瘫倒在地板上。
• The roof collapsed under the weight of snow. 房顶在雪的重压下突然坍塌下来。

9 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。

10 pretext   

n.借口，托词

参考例句：

• He used his headache as a pretext for not going to school.他借口头疼而不去上学。
• He didn't attend that meeting under the pretext of sickness.他以生病为借口，没参加那个会议。