VOA标准英语2008年-Palestinians Celebrate Israel's Release of Pris

Palestinians are celebrating Israel's release of nearly 200 prisoners Monday. Israel says it freed the prisoners as a gesture to bolster¹ the moderate Palestinian President, Mahmoud Abbas. The release came just before the arrival of U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, who will work to push along a peace deal on Palestinian statehood. VOA's Luis Ramirez reports from Jerusalem.

Hundreds of people took to the streets of Ramallah in the West Bank to cheer the first Palestinians released by Israel Monday, welcoming them as heroes. Some of the former prisoners kissed the ground as they arrived on Palestinian territory.
　
Said al-Attaba, center, the longest serving Palestinian prisoner (30 years in jail) waves after being released from Israeli prison, 25 Aug 2008

The prisoners, in some cases, had been held for decades. Israel had been reluctant to release them because some had been imprisoned² for attacks that had killed Israeli civilians³.

Israeli officials say releasing the prisoners was not easy, but they did so because they believe the gesture could help move along negotiations⁴ with the Palestinians.

Greeting the released prisoners on Monday was Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, who welcomed their release but said Israel must free more of the at least nine-thousand Palestinians still in prison.

Mr. Abbas said Palestinians love peace and want a comprehensive peace accord. But, he said, no peace will come without the release of all prisoners.

The release came hours before the arrival in Israel of U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice for meetings with Israeli and Palestinian officials.

The United States wants to see a peace agreement by the end of the year. However, Israel has warned that such an agreement is still out of reach.

Israelis and Palestinians remain far apart on key issues including Israeli settlements in East Jerusalem and the West Bank, and the Palestinians' right of return.

Israel last week warned that too much international pressure could yield a premature⁵ agreement and result in a new outbreak of violence.

1 bolster   

n.枕垫；v.支持，鼓励

参考例句：

• The high interest rates helped to bolster up the economy.高利率使经济更稳健。
• He tried to bolster up their morale.他尽力鼓舞他们的士气。

2 imprisoned   

下狱，监禁( imprison的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• He was imprisoned for two concurrent terms of 30 months and 18 months. 他被判处30个月和18个月的监禁，合并执行。
• They were imprisoned for possession of drugs. 他们因拥有毒品而被监禁。

3 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。

4 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。

5 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。