VOA标准英语2009年-Polls Open in Tight Israeli Election

Security is on the minds of voters in Israel as they cast ballots² in national elections, Tuesday. The poll pits hardline former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his Likud party against Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni of the ruling centrist Kadima party. Public opinion polls had shown Mr. Netanyahu head of the rest, going into the elections, but that lead has narrowed and analysts³ are predicting a tight race.
　
Israeli child casts his father's ballot¹ at polling station during general election in Tel Aviv, 10 Feb 2009

Voters turned out in small numbers in the early hours of polling, braving a rain storm that went through much of Israel Tuesday.

Pollsters had predicted a low turnout. But Raymond Jayson, a voter in Jewish West Jerusalem says the stakes are too high for him to stay home. Like for many Israelis, he says security is the number-one issue.

"I think that we have a major problem with Iran," he said. "I'm not sure that whoever is the Israeli prime minister is going to be able to deal with it on our own. I must be quite clear. I voted for Netanyahu. I think he is the strongest, in realistic terms, as to what needs to be done. If we have go it alone, it won't be the first time the Jewish people have had to go it alone."

For months, polls have suggested the right-wing Likud party's Benjamin Netanyahu emerging as a clear winner in these elections. Mr. Netanyahu's promises to be tough on Iran and the Palestinians and his calls for toppling the militant⁴ Islamist group Hamas in the Gaza Strip have resonated among many.

However, Mr. Netanyahu's lead narrowed considerably⁵, in the days leading up to the election, with polls suggesting the race may be too close to call.

Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, who has portrayed⁶ herself as one who can negotiate but who is also willing to use force when necessary, has sustained a following among those who still want to give negotiations⁸ a chance.

But even those who support negotiation⁷, as opposed to force, hope for a tough new leadership. A woman who identifies herself as a leftist and cast her ballot in West Jerusalem on Tuesday, says she hopes the new leadership will be willing to negotiate with Israel's enemies - to a degree.

"Without compromise there's no negotiation. Both sides would have to," she said. "But not only Israel. The other side would also have to change their state of mind. They cannot continue to think that Israel has to be demolished⁹. They cannot. We want a future here for them and for us."

Analysts expect smaller right wing parties to make significant gains in the race for the country's 120 parliament seats. Among those is the Israel Our Home party, led by Avigdor Lieberman, an ultra-nationalist who has called for the exclusion¹⁰ of Arab communities from Israel. Pre-election polls show his party moving to third place, behind Likud and Kadima.

Voters are casting ballots for parties, not candidates.

The leader of the party that gets the most votes will have to form a coalition¹¹ government, a process that could take weeks.

1 ballot   

n.（不记名）投票，投票总数，投票权；vi.投票

参考例句：

• The members have demanded a ballot.会员们要求投票表决。
• The union said they will ballot members on whether to strike.工会称他们将要求会员投票表决是否罢工。

2 ballots   

n.投票表决( ballot的名词复数 )；选举；选票；投票总数v.（使）投票表决( ballot的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• They're counting the ballots. 他们正在计算选票。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The news of rigged ballots has rubbed off much of the shine of their election victory. 他们操纵选票的消息使他们在选举中获得的胜利大为减色。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 analysts   

分析家，化验员( analyst的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• City analysts forecast huge profits this year. 伦敦金融分析家预测今年的利润非常丰厚。
• I was impressed by the high calibre of the researchers and analysts. 研究人员和分析人员的高素质给我留下了深刻印象。

4 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。

5 considerably   

adv.极大地；相当大地；在很大程度上

参考例句：

• The economic situation has changed considerably.经济形势已发生了相当大的变化。
• The gap has narrowed considerably.分歧大大缩小了。

6 portrayed   

v.画像( portray的过去式和过去分词 )；描述；描绘；描画

参考例句：

• Throughout the trial, he portrayed himself as the victim. 在审讯过程中，他始终把自己说成是受害者。
• The author portrayed his father as a vicious drunkard. 作者把他父亲描绘成一个可恶的酒鬼。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

7 negotiation   

n.谈判，协商

参考例句：

• They closed the deal in sugar after a week of negotiation.经过一星期的谈判，他们的食糖生意成交了。
• The negotiation dragged on until July.谈判一直拖到7月份。

8 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。

9 demolished   

v.摧毁( demolish的过去式和过去分词 )；推翻；拆毁（尤指大建筑物）；吃光

参考例句：

• The factory is due to be demolished next year. 这个工厂定于明年拆除。
• They have been fighting a rearguard action for two years to stop their house being demolished. 两年来，为了不让拆除他们的房子，他们一直在进行最后的努力。

10 exclusion   

n.拒绝，排除，排斥，远足，远途旅行

参考例句：

• Don't revise a few topics to the exclusion of all others.不要修改少数论题以致排除所有其他的。
• He plays golf to the exclusion of all other sports.他专打高尔夫球，其他运动一概不参加。

11 coalition   

n.结合体，同盟，结合，联合

参考例句：

• The several parties formed a coalition.这几个政党组成了政治联盟。
• Coalition forces take great care to avoid civilian casualties.联盟军队竭尽全力避免造成平民伤亡。