VOA常速英语2008年-Palestinians Suspend Peace Talks With Israel Ov

By Robert Berger
Jerusalem
02 March 2008

The Palestinians have suspended peace negotiations¹ with Israel in response to a deadly incursion into the Gaza Strip. More than 100 Palestinians, including many civilians², have been killed during the past two days. Two Israeli soldiers were also killed in the offensive, which was launched in response to Palestinian rocket attacks. Robert Berger reports from the VOA bureau in Jerusalem.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas announced the suspension of peace talks, accusing Israel of committing war crimes in Gaza. Palestinian chief negotiator Saeb Erekat said the Israeli assault on Gaza will only bring more violence.

"We believe that the international community must help us in acquiring and getting a cessation of hostilities³ immediately," said Saeb Erekat.

The Palestinian Authority was responding to anger which spilled on to the streets of the West Bank.

Palestinians called for revenge, and in the biblical town of Hebron they clashed with Israeli troops, who fired tear gas, rubber bullets and live ammunition⁴. A 14-year-old boy was killed. There were also protests in Lebanon.

Arab states, the European Union, and U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon accused Israel of an excessive use of force in Gaza.

But the Israeli army kept up the pressure. In one air strike in Gaza City, missiles destroyed the office of Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh.

Israeli spokesman Mark Regev says it is a legitimate⁵ response to daily Palestinian rocket attacks.

"If you think of how the people in southern Israel have been living with these missiles coming in day after day, week after week, year after year, our response has indeed been proportionate," said Regev. "We will act to defend our people."

The violence is casting doubt over President Bush's goal of a peace agreement by the end of the year. U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice arrives here later this week and will try to get the peace process back on track.

1 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。

2 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。

3 hostilities   

n.战争；敌意(hostility的复数)；敌对状态；战事

参考例句：

• Mexico called for an immediate cessation of hostilities. 墨西哥要求立即停止敌对行动。
• All the old hostilities resurfaced when they met again. 他们再次碰面时，过去的种种敌意又都冒了出来。

4 ammunition   

n.军火，弹药

参考例句：

• A few of the jeeps had run out of ammunition.几辆吉普车上的弹药已经用光了。
• They have expended all their ammunition.他们把弹药用光。

5 legitimate   

adj.合法的，合理的，合乎逻辑的；v.使合法

参考例句：

• Sickness is a legitimate reason for asking for leave.生病是请假的一个正当的理由。
• That's a perfectly legitimate fear.怀有这种恐惧完全在情理之中。