VOA标准英语2009年-Final Israeli Election Results Bring Political

Final results have been announced in Israeli elections that took place on Tuesday. But the tally¹ has left Israel in political uncertainty².
　
Election campaign posters for Likud Party leader Benjamin Netanyahu and FM and Kadima Party leader Tzipi Livni are seen in Jerusalem, 09 Feb 2009

In the final results, centrist Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni's Kadima party won 28 seats in Israel's 120-member Knesset or parliament. Benjamin Netanyahu's nationalistic Likud Party came in a close second with 27 seats.

Nevertheless, Ms. Livni could become the first winner of an Israeli election who could not form a government. The right wing led by Mr. Netanyahu controls the Knesset, so he is emerging as the likely candidate to form the next government and become prime minister.

With such a close outcome, both leaders were vying³ for President Shimon Peres to nominate them as prime minister, which he will do only after consulting with political party leaders next week. He has a week to designate someone from the moment final results are published in the official gazette on February 18.

Most observers believe if Mr. Netanyahu gets the nod, that could throw a wrench⁴ into U.S.-sponsored peace talks. Mr. Netanyahu and his allies oppose the cornerstone of American Mideast policy: the creation of a Palestinian state.

"Well, I think there's going to be a clash, I mean the clash is almost inevitable," said Israeli analyst⁵ Gadi Wolfsfeld. "I mean the United States is moving in one direction with Barack Obama and Israel's moving in the opposite direction with Bibi Netanyahu."

Mr. Netanyahu, who was educated in America and is a seasoned diplomat⁶, wants to avoid that.

"Certainly I don't think anybody wants to ruin our relationship with the United States which is our greatest asset," said Wolfsfeld.

If he is nominated, Mr. Netanyahu faces a dilemma⁷. He could form a right-wing government, but that would put him on a collision course with the United States. So he would rather form a moderate national unity⁸ government with Ms. Livni's Kadima Party. Mr. Netanyahu could then continue peace talks with the Palestinians, albeit⁹ more slowly. But many in Kadima say they won't join a government to be a fig¹⁰ leaf for Mr. Netanyahu.

1 tally   

n.计数器，记分，一致，测量；vt.计算，记录，使一致；vi.计算，记分，一致

参考例句：

• Don't forget to keep a careful tally of what you spend.别忘了仔细记下你的开支账目。
• The facts mentioned in the report tally to every detail.报告中所提到的事实都丝毫不差。

2 uncertainty   

n.易变，靠不住，不确知，不确定的事物

参考例句：

• Her comments will add to the uncertainty of the situation.她的批评将会使局势更加不稳定。
• After six weeks of uncertainty,the strain was beginning to take its toll.6个星期的忐忑不安后，压力开始产生影响了。

3 vying   

adj.竞争的；比赛的

参考例句：

• California is vying with other states to capture a piece of the growing communications market.为了在日渐扩大的通讯市场分得一杯羹，加利福尼亚正在和其他州展开竞争。
• Four rescue plans are vying to save the zoo.4个拯救动物园的方案正争得不可开交。

4 wrench   

v.猛拧；挣脱；使扭伤；n.扳手；痛苦，难受

参考例句：

• He gave a wrench to his ankle when he jumped down.他跳下去的时候扭伤了足踝。
• It was a wrench to leave the old home.离开这个老家非常痛苦。

5 analyst   

n.分析家，化验员；心理分析学家

参考例句：

• What can you contribute to the position of a market analyst?你有什么技能可有助于市场分析员的职务？
• The analyst is required to interpolate values between standards.分析人员需要在这些标准中插入一些值。

6 diplomat   

n.外交官，外交家；能交际的人，圆滑的人

参考例句：

• The diplomat threw in a joke, and the tension was instantly relieved.那位外交官插进一个笑话，紧张的气氛顿时缓和下来。
• He served as a diplomat in Russia before the war.战前他在俄罗斯当外交官。

7 dilemma   

n.困境，进退两难的局面

参考例句：

• I am on the horns of a dilemma about the matter.这件事使我进退两难。
• He was thrown into a dilemma.他陷入困境。

8 unity   

n.团结，联合，统一；和睦，协调

参考例句：

• When we speak of unity,we do not mean unprincipled peace.所谓团结，并非一团和气。
• We must strengthen our unity in the face of powerful enemies.大敌当前，我们必须加强团结。

9 albeit   

conj.即使；纵使；虽然

参考例句：

• Albeit fictional,she seemed to have resolved the problem.虽然是虚构的，但是在她看来好象是解决了问题。
• Albeit he has failed twice,he is not discouraged.虽然失败了两次，但他并没有气馁。

10 fig   

n.无花果(树)

参考例句：

• The doctor finished the fig he had been eating and selected another.这位医生吃完了嘴里的无花果，又挑了一个。
• You can't find a person who doesn't know fig in the United States.你找不到任何一个在美国的人不知道无花果的。