VOA标准英语2009-Palestinian Elections Postponed Indefinitely

By Robert Berger
Jerusalem
13 November 2009

Palestinian elections, originally set for early next year, will not take place on schedule.

The elections were postponed¹ because of divisions between rival Palestinian factions²: the Fatah movement that controls the West Bank and the Islamic militant³ group Hamas that rules the Gaza Strip.

Western-backed Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas of Fatah had ordered the Central Election Commission to conduct national elections on schedule in January. But commission chairman Hanna Nasser blamed Hamas for refusing to cooperate and forcing the postponement⁴.

"We have found there are obstacles in certain areas. We have made contacts with Hamas in Gaza, [but] we have found that this is not a possibility," he said.

Nasser said Hamas would not allow the elections to take place in Gaza.

"And therefore, since elections are expected to be executed in all parts of the West Bank, Gaza and Jerusalem, we have therefore taken a decision that the CEC cannot at present execute the decree of the President," he said.

Hamas ousted⁵ President Abbas and his Fatah forces from Gaza during the Palestinian civil war two years ago and does not recognize his rule in the West Bank. Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri says the call for elections was illegitimate.

Abu Zuhri said postponing⁶ the elections was the right decision because there is not a positive atmosphere for the vote.

President Abbas had threatened not to run in the elections because of the deadlocked⁷ peace process with Israel, but now it appears that he will remain in office. That is a relief to Israel, the West and Arab states which see Mr. Abbas as a moderate alternative to Hamas.

But the deep internal divisions among the Palestinians pose a major obstacle to U.S.-sponsored efforts to achieve a peace agreement. Israel and the international community shun⁸ Hamas because it refuses to renounce⁹ violence and recognize the Jewish state. Israeli, western and Arab leaders admit that until the Palestinian factions reconcile, it will be impossible to achieve the stated goal of the peace process-a viable¹⁰ Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

 

1 postponed   

vt.& vi.延期，缓办，（使）延迟vt.把…放在次要地位；[语]把…放在后面（或句尾）vi.（疟疾等）延缓发作（或复发）

参考例句：

• The trial was postponed indefinitely. 审讯无限期延迟。
• The game has already been postponed three times. 这场比赛已经三度延期了。

2 factions   

组织中的小派别，派系( faction的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The gens also lives on in the "factions." 氏族此外还继续存在于“factions〔“帮”〕中。 来自英汉非文学 - 家庭、私有制和国家的起源
• rival factions within the administration 政府中的对立派别

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 postponement   

n.推迟

参考例句：

• He compounded with his creditors for a postponement of payment. 他与债权人达成协议延期付款。
• Rain caused the postponement of several race-meetings. 几次赛马大会因雨延期。

5 ousted   

驱逐( oust的过去式和过去分词 )； 革职； 罢黜； 剥夺

参考例句：

• He was ousted as chairman. 他的主席职务被革除了。
• He may be ousted by a military takeover. 他可能在一场军事接管中被赶下台。

6 postponing   

v.延期，推迟( postpone的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• He tried to gain time by postponing his decision. 他想以迟迟不作决定的手段来争取时间。 来自辞典例句
• I don't hold with the idea of postponing further discussion of the matter. 我不赞成推迟进一步讨论这件事的想法。 来自辞典例句

7 deadlocked   

陷入僵局的；僵持不下的

参考例句：

• The plan deadlocked over the funds. 这个计划由于经费问题而搁浅了。
• The meeting deadlocked over the wage issue. 会议因工资问题而停顿下来。

8 shun   

vt.避开，回避，避免

参考例句：

• Materialists face truth,whereas idealists shun it.唯物主义者面向真理，唯心主义者则逃避真理。
• This extremist organization has shunned conventional politics.这个极端主义组织有意避开了传统政治。

9 renounce   

v.放弃；拒绝承认，宣布与…断绝关系

参考例句：

• She decided to renounce the world and enter a convent.她决定弃绝尘世去当修女。
• It was painful for him to renounce his son.宣布与儿子脱离关系对他来说是很痛苦的。

10 viable   

adj.可行的，切实可行的，能活下去的

参考例句：

• The scheme is economically viable.这个计划从经济效益来看是可行的。
• The economy of the country is not viable.这个国家经济是难以维持的。