VOA标准英语2010年-A New Coalition Calls on US to End Isr

Several American Jewish organizations are joining with Christian¹ and Muslim religious and political action groups to call for the peaceful resolution of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. They launched a nationwide ad campaign as President Barack Obama was hosting the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in early July.

As President Obama was meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu at the White House, a new coalition², called the Community of Yes, was launching a nationwide ad campaign, supporting bold US leadership to achieve a two-state solution.

The "Community of Yes," is unprecedented³. It's led by J Street. The group calls itself the pro-Israel, pro-peace lobby and favors the two-state solution, a Palestinian state living alongside Israel. The coalition includes three more Jewish organizations, as well as two Muslim American groups, Churches for Middle East Peace and the Foundation for Middle East Peace.

But tensions between Israel and the Palestinians are mounting after Israel demolished⁴ three Palestinian homes in an area of Jerusalem it seized in the 1967 war. The peace process has been stalled, with the US mediating⁵ so called proximity⁶ talks. The Palestinian Authority is insisting on a total freeze of Jewish settlement in the West Bank before entering direct talks. 

Hadar Susskind, a vice⁷ president of J Street, explains the coalition's goals:

"To be a counter in a lot of ways to the broad array of voices you will hear out there sometimes in Congress, sometimes on the airwaves and in the Jewish community, the folks who spend a lot of time talking about why we can't do this, why we can't get to peace, or that Israel doesn't have a partner," said Hadar Susskind. "What we want to show is what we know is out there; a tremendous amount of support for U.S. leadership to end this conflict."

Susskind says opinion polls indicate more than 80 percent of Jewish Americans support an active role by the US to bring about the two state solution. 

 

To build even more support, JStreet has been holding events at synagogues.  The other groups in the community will be going to their constituents⁸.

"There is going to be a whole series of tools and ways for people to join the Community of Yes, to be a part of this broad effort to say yes to the American leadership, yes to President Obama engaging and trying to finally bring an end to this conflict," said Susskind.

New to the mix are two large Islamic American organizations, including the Muslim Public Affairs Council or MPAC.

Haris Tarrain directs MPAC's Washington office:

"We have come together to say it is time for those who are willing to say yes to peace and now, to accentuate⁹ our voices and to come together," said Haris Tarrain. "We think we can mobilize Americans of all backgrounds and Muslim Americans will be one component¹⁰ of that."

Tarrain says although the Muslim American community is diverse, the Palestinian issue is dear to most. 

While the Community of Yes says the U.S. is urgently needed to help end the conflict, some pro-Israel groups argue against moving quickly. 

Robert Satloff is Executive Director of the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, which takes mostly pro-Israel positions:

"Most Americans have an understanding that Israelis are on the frontlines," said Robert Satloff. "Our job, the appropriate job for the U.S. government is to reduce the risks for the peacemakers so they can take that last leap to make the peace."

Organizations in the Community of Yes are prodding¹¹ Congress and the Obama administration to help end the Palestinian-Israeli conflict through sustained engagement,  which President Obama promised in his Cairo address one year ago.
 

1 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。

2 coalition   

n.结合体，同盟，结合，联合

参考例句：

• The several parties formed a coalition.这几个政党组成了政治联盟。
• Coalition forces take great care to avoid civilian casualties.联盟军队竭尽全力避免造成平民伤亡。

3 unprecedented   

adj.无前例的，新奇的

参考例句：

• The air crash caused an unprecedented number of deaths.这次空难的死亡人数是空前的。
• A flood of this sort is really unprecedented.这样大的洪水真是十年九不遇。

4 demolished   

v.摧毁( demolish的过去式和过去分词 )；推翻；拆毁（尤指大建筑物）；吃光

参考例句：

• The factory is due to be demolished next year. 这个工厂定于明年拆除。
• They have been fighting a rearguard action for two years to stop their house being demolished. 两年来，为了不让拆除他们的房子，他们一直在进行最后的努力。

5 mediating   

调停，调解，斡旋( mediate的现在分词 )； 居间促成； 影响…的发生； 使…可能发生

参考例句：

• So many factors are mediating. 如此众多的因素在起作用。
• The contrast in mediating noted in the sitting room. 客厅中注重了调和中的对比。

6 proximity   

n.接近，邻近

参考例句：

• Marriages in proximity of blood are forbidden by the law.法律规定禁止近亲结婚。
• Their house is in close proximity to ours.他们的房子很接近我们的。

7 vice   

n.坏事；恶习；[pl.]台钳，老虎钳；adj.副的

参考例句：

• He guarded himself against vice.他避免染上坏习惯。
• They are sunk in the depth of vice.他们堕入了罪恶的深渊。

8 constituents   

n.选民( constituent的名词复数 )；成分；构成部分；要素

参考例句：

• She has the full support of her constituents. 她得到本区选民的全力支持。
• Hydrogen and oxygen are the constituents of water. 氢和氧是水的主要成分。 来自《简明英汉词典》

9 accentuate   

v.着重，强调

参考例句：

• She has beautiful eyes, so we should accentuate them in the makeup.她眼睛很美丽，我们在化妆时应该突出她的眼睛。
• Mrs Obamas speeches rarely accentuate the positive.奥巴马夫人的演讲很少强调美国积极的一面。

10 component   

n.组成部分，成分，元件；adj.组成的，合成的

参考例句：

• Each component is carefully checked before assembly.每个零件在装配前都经过仔细检查。
• Blade and handle are the component parts of a knife.刀身和刀柄是一把刀的组成部分。

11 prodding   

v.刺，戳( prod的现在分词 )；刺激；促使；（用手指或尖物）戳

参考例句：

• He needed no prodding. 他不用督促。
• The boy is prodding the animal with a needle. 那男孩正用一根针刺那动物。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》