2007年VOA标准英语-Israeli and Palestinian Leaders Try to Narrow D

By Robert Berger
Jerusalem
10 September 2007

Israeli and Palestinian leaders have held a summit meeting in a bid to push the peace process forward. But while there are signs of progress, deep divisions remain. Robert Berger reports from the VOA bureau in Jerusalem.

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert (r) stands with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas (l) at the Prime Minister's Office in Jerusalem, 10 Sep 2007

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas tried to narrow differences over Palestinian statehood during three hours of talks in Jerusalem. They agreed to set up negotiating teams to work on key issues of disagreement.

The two leaders are trying to hammer out a declaration of principles to be presented at an international peace conference in the United States expected to take place in November.

Israel is also considering a prisoner release as a goodwill¹ gesture to Mr. Abbas during the upcoming Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

"We want the Palestinian people to understand that moderation pays, that non-violence pays, that negotiation² brings much more than terrorism ever would," said Israeli spokesman Mark Regev.

The two leaders have been meeting regularly since the Islamic militant³ group Hamas seized control of the Gaza Strip in June, routing the forces of the rival Fatah faction⁴ led by Mr. Abbas. Israel wants to strengthen the moderate Abbas government in the West Bank while isolating⁵ Hamas in Gaza.

But the Palestinians want Israel to go beyond general declarations and to nail down the details for establishment of a Palestinian state. Nimer Hamad is an aide to Mr. Abbas.

Israel has made promises, Hamad said, but we want things in writing.

Israel says it is premature⁶ to make commitments on thorny⁷ issues such as Jerusalem, refugees, settlements, and final borders.

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice will try to bridge the gaps when she visits here next week.

1 goodwill   

n.善意，亲善，信誉，声誉

参考例句：

• His heart is full of goodwill to all men.他心里对所有人都充满着爱心。
• We paid ￡10,000 for the shop,and ￡2000 for its goodwill.我们用一万英镑买下了这家商店，两千英镑买下了它的信誉。

2 negotiation   

n.谈判，协商

参考例句：

• They closed the deal in sugar after a week of negotiation.经过一星期的谈判，他们的食糖生意成交了。
• The negotiation dragged on until July.谈判一直拖到7月份。

3 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。

4 faction   

n.宗派，小集团；派别；派系斗争

参考例句：

• Faction and self-interest appear to be the norm.派系之争和自私自利看来非常普遍。
• I now understood clearly that I was caught between the king and the Bunam's faction.我现在完全明白自己已陷入困境，在国王与布纳姆集团之间左右为难。

5 isolating   

adj.孤立的，绝缘的v.使隔离( isolate的现在分词 )；将…剔出（以便看清和单独处理）；使（某物质、细胞等）分离；使离析

参考例句：

• Colour filters are not very effective in isolating narrow spectral bands. 一些滤色片不能很有效地分离狭窄的光谱带。 来自辞典例句
• This became known as the streak method for isolating bacteria. 这个方法以后就称为分离细菌的划线法。 来自辞典例句

6 premature   

adj.比预期时间早的；不成熟的，仓促的

参考例句：

• It is yet premature to predict the possible outcome of the dialogue.预言这次对话可能有什么结果为时尚早。
• The premature baby is doing well.那个早产的婴儿很健康。

7 thorny   

adj.多刺的，棘手的

参考例句：

• The young captain is pondering over a thorny problem.年轻的上尉正在思考一个棘手的问题。
• The boys argued over the thorny points in the lesson.孩子们辩论功课中的难点。