VOA标准英语2010年-UN Seeks to Calm Tensions on Israel-Le

Relatives and friends of Lieutenant-Colonel Dov Harari react during his funeral at the military cemetery¹ in the coastal² city of Netanya, Israel, 4 Aug 2010. A clash between Lebanese troops and Israeli soldiers Tuesday left Harari dead and was the most serious since Israel and the Iranian-backed Lebanese group Hezbollah fought a brief war in 2006.

The United Nations is seeking to calm tensions on the Israel-Lebanon border after a sudden outbreak of violence this week.

 

United Nations, Israeli, and Lebanese commanders met in South Lebanon in a bid to ease tensions, following the deadliest border clash in four years on Tuesday.  UNIFIL, the U.N. peacekeeping force in Lebanon, urged both sides to avoid any action that could raise tensions.

UNIFIL political advisor³ Milos Struger says, "Our immediate⁴ priority of UNIFIL is to restore calm in the area.  UNIFIL has been in contact with the top leadership with the Lebanese Army and with the command of the Israeli army urging maximum restraint."

Tensions soared Tuesday when a Lebanese sniper killed a senior Israeli officer as Israeli forces pruned⁵ trees in a disputed border area.  Israel retaliated⁶ with tank fire and an air strike, killing⁷ two Lebanese soldiers and a journalist.  It was the most serious border clash since the Lebanon War four years ago.

UNIFIL later determined⁸ Israeli forces were in their own territory, denying Lebanese claims that they had crossed the border.  The U.S. State Department described the Lebanese fire on Israeli troops as "wholly unjustified and unwarranted."

In Jerusalem, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a stern warning.

He said Israel holds the government of Lebanon responsible for what he described as "the violent provocation⁹" against Israeli troops.  Mr. Netanyahu warned Lebanon not to test Israel's resolve, saying there would be a harsh military response to any further attacks.

Lebanese officials continue to insist Israeli forces crossed into Lebanese territory and the Lebanese Army acted in self-defense.

The incident raised fears of another war.  In 2006, a deadly cross-border raid by Hezbollah guerrillas sparked a 34-day Israeli air and ground assault on Lebanon.

1 cemetery   

n.坟墓，墓地，坟场

参考例句：

• He was buried in the cemetery.他被葬在公墓。
• His remains were interred in the cemetery.他的遗体葬在墓地。

2 coastal   

adj.海岸的，沿海的，沿岸的

参考例句：

• The ocean waves are slowly eating away the coastal rocks.大海的波浪慢慢地侵蚀着岸边的岩石。
• This country will fortify the coastal areas.该国将加强沿海地区的防御。

3 advisor   

n.顾问，指导老师，劝告者

参考例句：

• They employed me as an advisor.他们聘请我当顾问。
• The professor is engaged as a technical advisor.这位教授被聘请为技术顾问。

4 immediate   

adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的

参考例句：

• His immediate neighbours felt it their duty to call.他的近邻认为他们有责任去拜访。
• We declared ourselves for the immediate convocation of the meeting.我们主张立即召开这个会议。

5 pruned   

v.修剪（树木等）( prune的过去式和过去分词 )；精简某事物，除去某事物多余的部分

参考例句：

• Next year's budget will have to be drastically pruned. 下一年度的预算将大幅度削减。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The roses had been pruned back savagely. 玫瑰被狠狠地修剪了一番。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 retaliated   

v.报复，反击( retaliate的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• When he once teased her for her inexperience, she retaliated. 有一次，他讥讽她没有经验，她便反唇相讥。 来自辞典例句
• The terrorists retaliated by killing three policemen. 恐怖分子以杀死三名警察相报复。 来自辞典例句

7 killing   

n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财

参考例句：

• Investors are set to make a killing from the sell-off.投资者准备清仓以便大赚一笔。
• Last week my brother made a killing on Wall Street.上个周我兄弟在华尔街赚了一大笔。

8 determined   

adj.坚定的；有决心的

参考例句：

• I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。
• He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。

9 provocation   

n.激怒，刺激，挑拨，挑衅的事物，激怒的原因

参考例句：

• He's got a fiery temper and flares up at the slightest provocation.他是火爆性子，一点就着。
• They did not react to this provocation.他们对这一挑衅未作反应。