VOA标准英语2009年-Israel Freezes New Settlement Projects in

Israel has made a concession¹ to the United States in a bid to ease a simmering dispute over Jewish settlements.
　
Housing units are seen in an outpost near the West Bank Jewish settlement of Itamar, near Nablus, 18 Aug 2009

Israel has announced that since Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu took office five months ago, the government has not initiated² any new housing projects in the West Bank.

Housing Minister Ariel Atias told Israel Radio that the settlements are "in a holding pattern," with the aim of improving ties with the United States and reviving the peace process.

Israel's dovish Peace Now movement, which monitors settlement activity, confirmed that there have been no new housing starts in the West Bank in five months.

Israel-U.S. relations have been strained since the Obama administration demanded a complete freeze on settlement construction in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. Mr. Netanyahu has resisted that, saying Israel reserves the right to build anywhere in Jerusalem because it is the nation's eternal capital.

And while West Bank construction already in progress is continuing, Atias says the freeze on new projects is a clear nod to the U.S.

The housing minister said Prime Minister Netanyahu does not want a confrontation³ with Washington, and he is taking the necessary steps to preserve the special relationship between Israel and the United States.

The White House responded positively⁴, saying "both sides ... are making progress on the settlement issue."

1 concession   

n.让步，妥协；特许(权)

参考例句：

• We can not make heavy concession to the matter.我们在这个问题上不能过于让步。
• That is a great concession.这是很大的让步。

2 initiated   

n. 创始人 adj. 新加入的 vt. 开始，创始，启蒙，介绍加入

参考例句：

• He has not yet been thoroughly initiated into the mysteries of computers. 他对计算机的奥秘尚未入门。
• The artist initiated the girl into the art world in France. 这个艺术家介绍这个女孩加入巴黎艺术界。

3 confrontation   

n.对抗，对峙，冲突

参考例句：

• We can't risk another confrontation with the union.我们不能冒再次同工会对抗的危险。
• After years of confrontation,they finally have achieved a modus vivendi.在对抗很长时间后，他们最后达成安宁生存的非正式协议。

4 positively   

adv.明确地，断然，坚决地；实在，确实

参考例句：

• She was positively glowing with happiness.她满脸幸福。
• The weather was positively poisonous.这天气着实讨厌。