VOA标准英语2009年-House of Representatives Approves Gaza Resoluti

Emotional statements made clear that while they strongly support the right of Israel to defend itself, lawmaker's are troubled by Palestinian civilian¹ casualties in Gaza.
　

US Congress

Howard Berman chairs the House Foreign Affairs Committee.

"I have no trouble justifying² the war that Israel has undertaken, but I am deeply troubled by the suffering, destruction, and loss of innocent life that it inevitably³ entails," he said.

Similar to one approved by the Senate, the House resolution recognized Israel's right to self-defense against what it called unceasing aggression⁴ by Hamas.

It said the lives of innocent civilians⁵ must be protected to the maximum extent possible, and expressed condolences to Palestinian and Israeli victims and their families.

A U.N. Security Council resolution approved Thursday failed to end fighting in Gaza. The United States abstained⁶, but did not exercise its veto power.

Florida Republican Ileana Ros-Lehtinen asserted that the United Nations has continued to apply a bias⁷ against Israel.

"It passed a resolution that did not even mention rocket attacks against innocent Israeli civilians, did not even mention Hamas and its war crimes, and called for an immediate⁸ cease-fire, not a sustainable cease-fire," he said.
　

Mike Pence

Mike Pence is a Republican from Indiana.

"Israel has a right and Israel has a duty to defend her people against the attacks of a terrorist group that victimizes the people of Gaza and Israelis on her borders," he said.

Minnesota Democrat⁹ Keith Ellison, one of only two Muslims in Congress, was among 22 members voting present. He said the resolution did not speak strongly enough about how to move Mideast peace efforts forward.

"This resolution does not do enough to move towards a stable and durable¹⁰ peace in the Middle East," said Ellison.

Democrat Jane Harman and Republican Ed Royce focused on what they called Iran's role in the Gaza conflict.

HARMAN: "Hamas ability to strike Israeli cities is continuing evidence that it has been receiving illicit¹¹ arms for use against Israel, no doubt with the complicity of its sponsors in Iran."
　

California congressman12 Ed Royce

ROYCE: "More delays in terms of taking out Hamas only work in the favor of the Islamic state over in Iran at this point, and they are helping¹³ to provide [Hamas with] the rockets."

Members of Congress have been expressing hope that the incoming Obama administration will undertake new aggressive efforts for peace.

California Democrat Susan Davis.

"The new administration and the new Congress represent an opportunity to regain¹⁴ our position as an honest broker¹⁵ in the region. For this to happen the tone coming from Washington must be in sharp contrast to the last eight years," said Davies.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said this week she hopes the new U.S. administration can move efforts forward for peace, and a two-state solution to the Israel-Palestinian conflict.

1 civilian   

adj.平民的，民用的，民众的

参考例句：

• There is no reliable information about civilian casualties.关于平民的伤亡还没有确凿的信息。
• He resigned his commission to take up a civilian job.他辞去军职而从事平民工作。

2 justifying   

证明…有理( justify的现在分词 )； 为…辩护； 对…作出解释； 为…辩解（或辩护）

参考例句：

• He admitted it without justifying it. 他不加辩解地承认这个想法。
• The fellow-travellers'service usually consisted of justifying all the tergiversations of Soviet intenal and foreign policy. 同路人的服务通常包括对苏联国内外政策中一切互相矛盾之处进行辩护。

3 inevitably   

adv.不可避免地；必然发生地

参考例句：

• In the way you go on,you are inevitably coming apart.照你们这样下去，毫无疑问是会散伙的。
• Technological changes will inevitably lead to unemployment.技术变革必然会导致失业。

4 aggression   

n.进攻，侵略，侵犯，侵害

参考例句：

• So long as we are firmly united, we need fear no aggression.只要我们紧密地团结，就不必惧怕外来侵略。
• Her view is that aggression is part of human nature.她认为攻击性是人类本性的一部份。

5 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。

6 abstained   

v.戒（尤指酒），戒除( abstain的过去式和过去分词 )；弃权（不投票）

参考例句：

• Ten people voted in favour, five against and two abstained. 十人投票赞成，五人反对，两人弃权。
• They collectively abstained (from voting) in the elections for local councilors. 他们在地方议会议员选举中集体弃权。 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 bias   

n.偏见，偏心，偏袒；vt.使有偏见

参考例句：

• They are accusing the teacher of political bias in his marking.他们在指控那名教师打分数有政治偏见。
• He had a bias toward the plan.他对这项计划有偏见。

8 immediate   

adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的

参考例句：

• His immediate neighbours felt it their duty to call.他的近邻认为他们有责任去拜访。
• We declared ourselves for the immediate convocation of the meeting.我们主张立即召开这个会议。

9 democrat   

n.民主主义者，民主人士；民主党党员

参考例句：

• The Democrat and the Public criticized each other.民主党人和共和党人互相攻击。
• About two years later,he was defeated by Democrat Jimmy Carter.大约两年后，他被民主党人杰米卡特击败。

10 durable   

adj.持久的，耐久的

参考例句：

• This raincoat is made of very durable material.这件雨衣是用非常耐用的料子做的。
• They frequently require more major durable purchases.他们经常需要购买耐用消费品。

11 illicit   

adj.非法的，禁止的，不正当的

参考例句：

• He had an illicit association with Jane.他和简曾有过不正当关系。
• Seizures of illicit drugs have increased by 30% this year.今年违禁药品的扣押增长了30%。

12 Congressman   

n.（美）国会议员

参考例句：

• He related several anecdotes about his first years as a congressman.他讲述自己初任议员那几年的几则轶事。
• The congressman is meditating a reply to his critics.这位国会议员正在考虑给他的批评者一个答复。

13 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。

14 regain   

vt.重新获得，收复，恢复

参考例句：

• He is making a bid to regain his World No.1 ranking.他正为重登世界排名第一位而努力。
• The government is desperate to regain credibility with the public.政府急于重新获取公众的信任。

15 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。