2007年VOA标准英语-Palestinian Rockets Hit Israel Despite Threat o

By Jim Teeple
Jerusalem
28 May 2007

At least seven rockets fired by Palestinian militants¹ in the Gaza Strip struck southern Israel, a day after Israel's prime minister warned that ending the rocket fire could take a long time. VOA's Jim Teeple reports from our Jerusalem bureau.

Hamas militants are keeping up their rocket attacks, despite threats of massive retaliation² from Israeli officials and a plea by moderate Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to renew a ceasefire with Israel that collapsed³ more than a week ago.

Palestinians carry body parts covered in the flag of Hamas' Executive Force as other search for bodies after an Israeli missile strike on a Hamas base killed four militants in the Zeitoun neighborhood in Gaza City, Saturday, 26 May 2007

The Associated Press reports Israel's Army has been given approval to broaden ground operations against Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip. Israel has carried out daily airstrikes against Hamas militants in Gaza for more than a week, killing⁴ about 50 Palestinians, but the rocket attacks have continued.

Miri Eisen a spokeswoman for Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert will not say if Hamas leaders will be targeted by Israeli forces, but she says those who are firing rockets at Israel will pay a heavy price.

"The citizens of the south are now under direct attack by Hamas rockets. We do not go into the operational details of how we will strike, but we state clearly to the Hamas, the Hamas-led government, the Hamas that are firing the rockets barrages⁵ into Israel, we will respond harshly and severely," she said.

Hamas leaders have warned Israel not to target their leaders, and have also threatened to kill an Israeli soldier being held by Palestinian militants in Gaza.

Hamas has for the time being also rejected a call by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to agree to a one-month cease-fire with Israel. Hamas leaders say they will only accept a cease-fire if Israel agrees to extend it to include the West Bank, something Israel rejects.

1 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。

2 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》

3 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。

4 killing   

n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财

参考例句：

• Investors are set to make a killing from the sell-off.投资者准备清仓以便大赚一笔。
• Last week my brother made a killing on Wall Street.上个周我兄弟在华尔街赚了一大笔。

5 barrages   

n.弹幕射击( barrage的名词复数 )；火力网；猛烈炮火；河上的堰坝v.火力攻击（或阻击）( barrage的第三人称单数 )；以密集火力攻击（或阻击）

参考例句：

• In many Basidiomycetes barrages develop. 在许多担子菌中也发生一些栅栏。 来自辞典例句
• It's fun to be able to run around and do instant Barrages. 一边瞬发奥术弹幕一边四处跑确实很有趣。 来自互联网