VOA标准英语2010年-Blair Calls for Restraint from Israeli

Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair is urging Israel and the Palestinians to avoid actions that could derail efforts to restart peace talks in the Middle East.  Mr. Blair told VOA correspondent Meredith Buel construction of Jewish settlements in East Jerusalem and Palestinian violence in the West Bank could lead both sides to lose the willingness to negotiate. 

Tensions in the West Bank and East Jerusalem have risen in recent weeks as Palestinians clashed with Israeli troops.

Palestinians believe moves by the Israeli government have been designed to tighten¹ Jewish control over land the Palestinians want as part of a future state.

Recently the international Quartet on the Middle East condemned² an announcement by Israel to build 1,600 new homes for Jewish settlers in occupied East Jerusalem.

Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair is the Quartet's special envoy³ to the region.

"The essential thing is for people not to do anything that inhibits⁴, or obstructs⁵, or hinders our attempt to get the parties around the table, talking, negotiating, and reaching a deal," said Tony Blair.

The United States has been trying to restart peace talks, but Israel's decision to expand settlement construction in East Jerusalem threatens to disrupt that effort.

Mr. Blair says both sides must refrain from actions that undermine the potential negotiations⁶.

"I think anything that causes the other side to lose faith in the other's willingness to negotiate is a problem and that is why there has been this debate about settlements," he said. "The Palestinians, for example, have also got to make sure that they continue to take action on security, that they do not engage in any action that could lead the Israelis to think that anyone is inciting⁷ violence in any way."

The Quartet consists of the United Nations, Russia, the European Union and the United States.

For nearly three years Mr. Blair has been the group's representative, with the primary goal of developing the Palestinian economy and institutions so a Palestinian state will be ready if the parties agree on a two-state solution.

"My view very simply of this is get the negotiations going, get them underway and then carry on with this patient, rather below the radar⁸, ground up exercise of trying to build the institutions of statehood, the economy, the development of the West Bank and the Palestinian territory," said Blair.

While British prime minister, Mr. Blair was criticized for his close relationship with then-U.S. president George W. Bush. 

Mr. Blair agreed to send British troops to Iraq and Afghanistan and says he still stands by those decisions.  He says the big lesson learned from those wars is that the fight against extremism is difficult and requires a sustained effort over time.

"And we have to be prepared, I am afraid, to be in there for the long haul and be prepared to stand up, both for our values, but also to show our determination that those who use terror and car bombs and suicide bombs should not get their way," he said.

Mr. Blair says his personal religious convictions help drive his dedication⁹ to the peace process.

"If you are a person of faith of the Abrahamic faith, whether you are a Jew, Christian¹⁰ or Muslim, being in and around Jerusalem and in the Holy Land is just an immensely special experience," said Tony Blair. "That is why sometimes people say to me you cannot really enjoy being out there, surely, with all the challenge and the difficulty, and in fact I do."

Mr. Blair's memoirs¹¹, titled The Journey, are scheduled to be published later this year.

The former British prime minister says he has learned that he cannot please everyone all the time, but consistently trying to make the right decisions is the only way to lead a country. 
 

1 tighten   

v.(使)变紧；(使)绷紧

参考例句：

• Turn the screw to the right to tighten it.向右转动螺钉把它拧紧。
• Some countries tighten monetary policy to avoid inflation.一些国家实行紧缩银根的货币政策，以避免通货膨胀。

2 condemned   

adj. 被责难的, 被宣告有罪的 动词condemn的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• He condemned the hypocrisy of those politicians who do one thing and say another. 他谴责了那些说一套做一套的政客的虚伪。
• The policy has been condemned as a regressive step. 这项政策被认为是一种倒退而受到谴责。

3 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。

4 inhibits   

阻止，抑制( inhibit的第三人称单数 )； 使拘束，使尴尬

参考例句：

• A small manufacturing sector inhibits growth in the economy. 制造业规模太小有碍经济增长。
• His bad English inhibits him from speaking freely. 他英语学得不好，这使他不能表达自如。

5 obstructs   

阻塞( obstruct的第三人称单数 )； 堵塞； 阻碍； 阻止

参考例句：

• The cirrhotic process obstructs the intrahepatic portion of the portal venous system. 肝硬化使门脉系统的肝内部分受阻。
• A device or means that obstructs, blocks, or plugs up. 堵塞的方法：阻碍，阻挠或堵塞的工具或途径。

6 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。

7 inciting   

刺激的，煽动的

参考例句：

• What are you up to inciting mutiny and insubordination? 你们干吗在这里煽动骚动的叛乱呀。
• He was charged with inciting people to rebel. 他被控煽动民众起来叛乱。

8 radar   

n.雷达，无线电探测器

参考例句：

• They are following the flight of an aircraft by radar.他们正在用雷达追踪一架飞机的飞行。
• Enemy ships were detected on the radar.敌舰的影像已显现在雷达上。

9 dedication   

n.奉献，献身，致力，题献，献辞

参考例句：

• We admire her courage,compassion and dedication.我们钦佩她的勇气、爱心和奉献精神。
• Her dedication to her work was admirable.她对工作的奉献精神可钦可佩。

10 Christian   

adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒

参考例句：

• They always addressed each other by their Christian name.他们总是以教名互相称呼。
• His mother is a sincere Christian.他母亲是个虔诚的基督教徒。

11 memoirs   

n.回忆录；回忆录传( mem,自oir的名词复数)

参考例句：

• Her memoirs were ghostwritten. 她的回忆录是由别人代写的。
• I watched a trailer for the screenplay of his memoirs. 我看过以他的回忆录改编成电影的预告片。 来自《简明英汉词典》