VOA标准英语2009年-Israel Pounds Gaza Smuggling Tunnels After More

Israeli warplanes have attacked smuggling¹ tunnels between the Gaza Strip and Egypt, after militants³ in Gaza fired at least two rockets into southern Israel. The tit-for-tat violence is further complicating⁴ prospects⁵ to draft a truce⁶ between Israel and the militant² Islamic group Hamas.
　
Palestinian woman walks past house destroyed during Israel's 22-day offensive in Jabalia in northern Gaza Strip, 15 Feb 2009

The rocket attacks have again become an almost everyday occurrence in the four weeks since Israel called off its 22-day offensive on militants in Gaza.

Nearly a month after both sides declared separate cease-fires, efforts by Egypt to mediate⁷ a durable⁸ truce are deadlocked⁹.

Hamas wants Israel to open all of its border crossings, including one to Egypt. Israel wants Hamas to stop militants from firing rockets into its territory and the smuggling of weapons into the seaside enclave.

Israeli officials say they will not consider reopening border crossings until Hamas returns Gilad Schalit, an Israeli soldier who has been held since he was captured in the Gaza Strip in 2006.

Hamas legislator Mushir al-Masri, a spokesman for the militant Islamist group, rejected any attempt by Israel to link the release of Schalit to a longer-term cease-fire.

Al-Masri says Hamas' position is obvious. He says Hamas wants a cease-fire and is not backing away on that issue. But he says the Israeli attempt to connect the Schalit case with a cease-fire agreement is going to destroy the process and he says Hamas considers that "a stab in the face" of the Egyptian efforts to mediate peace.

Hamas is also demanding that Israel release hundreds of prisoners - including militants who were responsible for a number of suicide bombings - in exchange for Schalit.

Despite the setbacks, prospects for a truce remain alive.

Israeli officials say the country's security cabinet is due to meet Wednesday to discuss a response to Hamas' demands, and details of a possible peace deal.

1 smuggling   

n.走私

参考例句：

• Some claimed that the docker's union fronted for the smuggling ring.某些人声称码头工人工会是走私集团的掩护所。
• The evidence pointed to the existence of an international smuggling network.证据表明很可能有一个国际走私网络存在。

2 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。

3 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。

4 complicating   

使复杂化( complicate的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• High spiking fever with chills is suggestive of a complicating pylephlebitis. 伴有寒战的高热，暗示合并门静脉炎。
• In America these actions become executive puberty rites, complicating relationships that are already complicated enough. 在美国，这些行动成了行政青春期的惯例，使本来已经够复杂的关系变得更复杂了。

5 prospects   

n.希望，前途(恒为复数)

参考例句：

• There is a mood of pessimism in the company about future job prospects. 公司中有一种对工作前景悲观的情绪。
• They are less sanguine about the company's long-term prospects. 他们对公司的远景不那么乐观。

6 truce   

n.休战，(争执，烦恼等的)缓和；v.以停战结束

参考例句：

• The hot weather gave the old man a truce from rheumatism.热天使这位老人暂时免受风湿病之苦。
• She had thought of flying out to breathe the fresh air in an interval of truce.她想跑出去呼吸一下休战期间的新鲜空气。

7 mediate   

vi.调解，斡旋；vt.经调解解决；经斡旋促成

参考例句：

• The state must mediate the struggle for water resources.政府必须通过调解来解决对水资源的争夺。
• They may be able to mediate between parties with different interests.他们也许能在不同利益政党之间进行斡旋。

8 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。

9 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。