VOA标准英语2010年-Palestinians Still Struggling to Rebui

Ruins remain a year after Israel launched Operation Cast Lead, a 22-day ground offensive in the Gaza Strip

It has been a year since Israel launched Operation Cast Lead, a 22-day ground offensive in the Gaza Strip.  Palestinian leaders and human rights groups say the assault killed 1,400 Palestinians.  Israel says 1,166 Palestinians died, along with 13 Israelis.  The objective was to stop militants¹ in Gaza from launching the rockets that had terrorized communities in southern Israel for years.

The memory of the violence is fresh for Faraj Soumani, 23. He says he watched Israeli soldiers kill his father.

"He raised his hands," he said.  "Then, the Israeli soldiers started shooting straight at him.  They shot him first on his shoulder than at his head. Then they started shooting all over his body."

The family's home was destroyed. Its main breadwinner was dead.

In all, 29 members of the Samouni clan² were killed in Israel's offensive.    

Recovery has not been easy despite international donations.  Faraj's mother, Zahwe, was left to fend³ for herself and the children.

"We got a little compensation money and help from good people," she said.  "I tried to rebuild, but discovered that my husband had some debts I had to repay.  I paid off as much as I could."

Zahwe Samouni had little cash left and was unable to find enough construction materials, but she managed to build a two-room cinderblock house.

"Almost all the time, we have only bread and herbs to eat, and tea.  But thank God, we have a roof to live under.  That is the most important thing - that we are living in a house," she added.

For the people in the neighboring Israeli town of Sderot, the offensive brought some relief. 

"I can tell you it's more quiet over here, and the people over here feel safer," said Liat Biton, a Sderot resident.

The number of rockets from Gaza falling on the town has dropped sharply since the war. 

Residents say they are sleeping better.

But if Sderot residents are enjoying the relative peace, some fear it may not last.

"To have a long term solution, you need both sides to be ready to compromise," she added.  "And as I can see right now, that's not the situation."

To lift the blockade, Israel demands that Hamas release captured soldier Gilad Shalit.  It also wants a guarantee from Hamas that militants will not use construction materials to build bunkers and weapons to attack Israel.

With his home in ruins, his father dead, and his family hungry, Faraj Samouni says he believes it is time to negotiate a solution.

"If there is an agreement, it will be a good thing for the people here, because in this time we have become dead," she explained.  "Everyone is half-dead.  It does not matter if you shell them because you are shelling a dead body."

In exchange for Shalit, Hamas wants Israel to release thousands of Palestinian prisoners.

One year after the war, a lasting⁴ solution remains⁵ only a wish.

1 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。

2 clan   

n.氏族，部落，宗族，家族，宗派

参考例句：

• She ranks as my junior in the clan.她的辈分比我小。
• The Chinese Christians,therefore,practically excommunicate themselves from their own clan.所以，中国的基督徒简直是被逐出了自己的家族了。

3 fend   

v.照料（自己），（自己）谋生，挡开，避开

参考例句：

• I've had to fend for myself since I was 14.我从十四岁时起就不得不照料自己。
• He raised his arm up to fend branches from his eyes.他举手将树枝从他眼前挡开。

4 lasting   

adj.永久的，永恒的；vbl.持续，维持

参考例句：

• The lasting war debased the value of the dollar.持久的战争使美元贬值。
• We hope for a lasting settlement of all these troubles.我们希望这些纠纷能获得永久的解决。

5 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。