VOA标准英语2009-Netanyahu Says He Wants to Resume Peace Talks wi

U.S. President Barack Obama and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have agreed on the need to resume Israeli-Palestinian peace talks, and to deal with the threat posed by Iran's nuclear program. The two leaders had their first meeting Monday at the White House since they both took office earlier this year.
　
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (L) meets with US President Barak Obama at White House (Israeli Gov handout¹ photo) 18 May 2009

Before Monday's meeting, analysts² were speculating on whether there might be a public clash between President Obama and Prime Minister Netanyahu over their different policy priorities. Mr. Obama was focused on resuming peace talks with the Palestinians, and Mr. Netanyahu was focused on Iran's nuclear threat. But speaking to the press after their two-hour meeting, both leaders made a point of recognizing how crucial both issues are to peace and security. Mr. Netanyahu said he is ready to resume peace talks with the Palestinians.

"And I want to start peace negotiations³ with the Palestinians immediately," said Benjamin Netanyahu. "I would like to broaden the circle of peace to include others in the Arab world. If we could, Mr. President, it is a distant vision but one that we shouldn't let go, maybe peace with the entire Arab world."
　
Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (l) with President Barack Obama at the White House, 18 May 2009

The Israeli Prime Minister made clear, however, that any agreement depends on the Palestinians accepting Israel's right to exist as a Jewish state, and Israel's right to defend itself. And he stopped short of endorsing⁴ Palestinian statehood, saying only that Israel does not want to govern the Palestinians.

For his part, President Obama said he expects a positive response from his diplomatic outreach to Iran on stopping its nuclear program. He said the United States wanted to bring Iran into the world community, but also reassured⁵ Israel that he is not prepared to have talks forever."

"But as I said by the end of the year I think we should have some sense at to whether or not these discussions are starting to yield significant benefits, whether we are starting to see serious movement on the part of the Iranians," said President Obama.

Prime Minister Netanyahu said the common threat posed by Iran's nuclear program to the entire region could even lead to opportunities for Israel to work with its Arab neighbors.

"And in my 59 years, in the life of the Jewish state, there has never been a time when Arabs and Israelis see a common threat the way we see it today, and also see the need to join together in working towards peace while simultaneously⁶ defending ourselves against this common threat," he said.

President Obama stressed that his administration is committed to reviving the peace process.

"We are going to be engaged," said Mr. Obama. "The United States is going to roll up our sleeves, we want to be a strong partner in this process. I have great confidence in Prime Minister Netanyahu's political skills, but also his historical vision."

Next week, Mr. Obama will continue his push for Middle East diplomacy⁷, hosting Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas at the White House.

1 handout   

n.散发的文字材料；救济品

参考例句：

• I read the handout carefully.我仔细看了这份分发的资料。
• His job was distributing handout at the street-corner.他的工作是在街头发传单。

2 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。

3 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。

4 endorsing   

v.赞同( endorse的现在分词 )；在（尤指支票的）背面签字；在（文件的）背面写评论；在广告上说本人使用并赞同某产品

参考例句：

• Yet Communist leaders are also publicly endorsing religion in an unprecedented way. 不过，共产党领导层对宗教信仰的公开认可也是以前不曾有过的。 来自互联网
• Connecticut Independent Senator Joseph Lieberman is endorsing Republican Senator John McCain. 康涅狄格州独立派参议员约瑟夫。列波曼将会票选共和议员约翰。麦凯恩。 来自互联网

5 reassured   

adj.使消除疑虑的；使放心的v.再保证，恢复信心( reassure的过去式和过去分词)

参考例句：

• The captain's confidence during the storm reassured the passengers. 在风暴中船长的信念使旅客们恢复了信心。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
• The doctor reassured the old lady. 医生叫那位老妇人放心。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 simultaneously   

adv.同时发生地，同时进行地

参考例句：

• The radar beam can track a number of targets almost simultaneously.雷达波几乎可以同时追着多个目标。
• The Windows allow a computer user to execute multiple programs simultaneously.Windows允许计算机用户同时运行多个程序。

7 diplomacy   

n.外交；外交手腕，交际手腕

参考例句：

• The talks have now gone into a stage of quiet diplomacy.会谈现在已经进入了“温和外交”阶段。
• This was done through the skill in diplomacy. 这是通过外交手腕才做到的。