VOA标准英语2009年-Mitchell Presses Israelis to Resolve Settl

U.S. special envoy¹ to the Middle East George Mitchell is on the second day of a visit to Israel, where he is working to jump-start the peace process. It has been a slow start for the U.S. official in his efforts to bridge the gaps.
　
U.S. Mideast envoy George Mitchell during his meeting with Israeli President Shimon Peres (not seen) in Jerusalem, 14 Sep 2009

The U.S. envoy had to take a break from meetings with the Israelis when his talks with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu were postponed² until Tuesday. Mr. Netanyahu attended the funeral of an air force pilot who was killed in a training accident.

Mitchell was also due to attend the funeral.

The U.S. envoy's main aim on this trip is to bridge the gap between Washington, which wants Israel to stop expanding its settlements in the West Bank and the Israeli government, which last week approved construction of hundreds of new homes inside settlements.

Palestinian officials have said they will not return to talks until Israel halts settlement expansion.

On Sunday, Mitchell started his talks with Israeli officials including President Shimon Peres, who told him Israel wants to see negotiations³ reopened by the end of this month. Mitchell said he hopes to end the settlement controversy⁴ soon and move on to peace talks.

"It is our intention to conclude this phase of our discussions in the very near future, within the timeframes that you suggest, to enable us to move on to the more important phase," Mitchell said.

Mitchell is working to mediate⁵ a meeting with Mr. Netanyahu, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, and U.S. President Barack Obama on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly next week in New York.

Mitchell is due to go to the West Bank to meet with Mr. Abbas. Chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat, speaking on Palestinian radio, said Mr. Abbas would tell Mitchell there will be no compromises from the Palestinians on their demand for a settlement freeze.

Erekat said President Abbas will tell Mitchell that if the United States does not succeed in convincing Israel to stop the settlement expansion, it will - in Erekat's words - mean that no one in the Arab world will believe that Mr. Obama can ultimately convince Israel to end its occupation of the West Bank.

Palestinians see the West Bank settlements, home to about 300,000 Israelis, as an obstacle to the creation of a future Palestinian state.

Israel has indicated it might agree to a limited freeze, possibly allowing for the completion of thousands of homes under construction.

1 envoy   

n.使节，使者，代表，公使

参考例句：

• Their envoy showed no sign of responding to our proposals.他们的代表对我方的提议毫无回应的迹象。
• The government has not yet appointed an envoy to the area.政府尚未向这一地区派过外交官。

2 postponed   

vt.& vi.延期，缓办，（使）延迟vt.把…放在次要地位；[语]把…放在后面（或句尾）vi.（疟疾等）延缓发作（或复发）

参考例句：

• The trial was postponed indefinitely. 审讯无限期延迟。
• The game has already been postponed three times. 这场比赛已经三度延期了。

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 controversy   

n.争论，辩论，争吵

参考例句：

• That is a fact beyond controversy.那是一个无可争论的事实。
• We ran the risk of becoming the butt of every controversy.我们要冒使自己在所有的纷争中都成为众矢之的的风险。

5 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。