VOA标准英语2009年-Israeli Police Clash with Palestinians nea

By Robert Berger
Jerusalem
04 October 2009

 
An Israeli border policeman guards as Palestinians pray outside Jerusalem's Old City ,Sunday, 4 Oct. 2009
Violence erupted Sunday near a disputed site that is sacred to Muslims and Jews in Jerusalem. Nine people suffered minor¹ injuries.

Israeli police, including paramilitary and mounted units, stormed into a crowd to disperse² about 150 Palestinians who threw stones and bottles in Jerusalem's Old City. The clash took place near the Mosque³ of Al Aksa, the site Jews call the Temple Mount. It is the holiest place in Judaism and third holiest in Islam.

The violence erupted after police shut down the mosque compound in an attempt to avoid a repeat of a similar riot a week ago. But Palestinians angry over the closure clashed with police.

Adding to the tension were rumors⁴ that Jewish militants⁵ would try to pray on the Temple Mount to mark the week-long holiday of Sukkot-the Feast of Tabernacles.

Israeli police said they would not tolerate any unrest in Jerusalem, especially when the city is packed with Jewish and Christian⁶ pilgrims observing the biblical feast.

The Palestinian Authority in the West Bank reacted angrily.

Palestinian official Imir Hamad said these events are extremely dangerous and prove the "extremist Israeli government," as he put it, is trying to provoke the Palestinian people. His remarks were broadcast on Israel Radio.

The Mosque of Al Aksa is a focal point of the Middle East conflict. The Second Palestinian Uprising broke out there in the year 2000. And with peace talks at an impasse⁷, some Palestinian officials are warning of a third uprising against Israel.

1 minor   

adj.较小(少)的，较次要的；n.辅修学科；vi.辅修

参考例句：

• The young actor was given a minor part in the new play.年轻的男演员在这出新戏里被分派担任一个小角色。
• I gave him a minor share of my wealth.我把小部分财产给了他。

2 disperse   

vi.使分散；使消失；vt.分散；驱散

参考例句：

• The cattle were swinging their tails to disperse the flies.那些牛甩动着尾巴驱赶苍蝇。
• The children disperse for the holidays.孩子们放假了。

3 mosque   

n.清真寺

参考例句：

• The mosque is a activity site and culture center of Muslim religion.清真寺为穆斯林宗教活动场所和文化中心。
• Some years ago the clock in the tower of the mosque got out of order.几年前，清真寺钟楼里的大钟失灵了。

4 rumors   

n.传闻( rumor的名词复数 )；[古]名誉；咕哝；[古]喧嚷v.传闻( rumor的第三人称单数 )；[古]名誉；咕哝；[古]喧嚷

参考例句：

• Rumors have it that the school was burned down. 有谣言说学校给烧掉了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Rumors of a revolt were afloat. 叛变的谣言四起。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 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。

6 Christian   

adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒

参考例句：

• They always addressed each other by their Christian name.他们总是以教名互相称呼。
• His mother is a sincere Christian.他母亲是个虔诚的基督教徒。

7 impasse   

n.僵局；死路

参考例句：

• The government had reached an impasse.政府陷入绝境。
• Negotiations seemed to have reached an impasse.谈判似乎已经陷入僵局。