VOA标准英语2013--Iran, Israel and Palestinians To Top AIPAC Convention

 

Iran, Israel and Palestinians To Top AIPAC Convention

Every year, thousands of Jewish Americans arrive in Washington for the annual convention of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee - or AIPAC.

The group is the most influential¹ pro-Israel lobbying organization in the U.S.

Ori Nir is spokesman for Americans for Peace Now, which promotes a two-state solution between Israel and the Palestinians.

“This gathering² always sends a message that, as far as I am concerned, is a very positive message, that the American public stands with Israel, that Israel has major support here in the United States,” Nir said.

U.S. Vice³ President Joe Biden is to address the convention along with many members of Congress.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to appear via satellite.

Once again, concern over Iran’s nuclear program is expected to top the agenda.

President Barack Obama addressed the convention last year.

“No Israeli government can tolerate a nuclear weapon in the hands of a regime that denies the Holocaust⁴, threatens to wipe Israel off the map and sponsors terrorist groups committed to Israel’s destruction,” Obama said.

The AIPAC gathering comes just a few weeks before President Obama travels to the Middle East, where Palestinian protesters and Israeli troops are clashing again.

Some analysts⁶ say this ongoing⁷ conflict is why Israel and the Palestinians should be brought back to the bargaining table.

“You now have a complicated situation in the region, in the Arab Spring and the uprisings. It is a reason to move faster, not to ignore it,” said Daniel Kurtzer of Princeton University.

At the start of his first term, President Obama made Israeli-Palestinian peacemaking a top priority.

But talks stalled over Jewish settlement construction in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem.

Now Obama may try again.

“But I think if he could connect with, not just the Israeli public but also the Palestinian public, and find a way to say I still care about this issue,” said David Makovsky, an analyst⁵ at the Washington Institute.

Direct involvement of the President would bring hope.

“We hope that it does signal a seriousness of intent in terms of re-engaging in a positive and constructive⁸ way," said Hanan Ashrawi, a major figure in the Palestine Liberation Organization.

The civil war in Syria will be another important topic when President Obama visits the volatile⁹ Middle East. 

1 influential   

adj.有影响的，有权势的

参考例句：

• He always tries to get in with the most influential people.他总是试图巴结最有影响的人物。
• He is a very influential man in the government.他在政府中是个很有影响的人物。

2 gathering   

n.集会，聚会，聚集

参考例句：

• He called on Mr. White to speak at the gathering.他请怀特先生在集会上讲话。
• He is on the wing gathering material for his novels.他正忙于为他的小说收集资料。

3 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。

4 holocaust   

n.大破坏；大屠杀

参考例句：

• The Auschwitz concentration camp always remind the world of the holocaust.奥辛威茨集中营总是让世人想起大屠杀。
• Ahmadinejad is denying the holocaust because he's as brutal as Hitler was.内贾德否认大屠杀，因为他像希特勒一样残忍。

5 analyst   

n.分析家，化验员；心理分析学家

参考例句：

• What can you contribute to the position of a market analyst?你有什么技能可有助于市场分析员的职务？
• The analyst is required to interpolate values between standards.分析人员需要在这些标准中插入一些值。

6 analysts   

分析家，化验员( analyst的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• City analysts forecast huge profits this year. 伦敦金融分析家预测今年的利润非常丰厚。
• I was impressed by the high calibre of the researchers and analysts. 研究人员和分析人员的高素质给我留下了深刻印象。

7 ongoing   

adj.进行中的，前进的

参考例句：

• The problem is ongoing.这个问题尚未解决。
• The issues raised in the report relate directly to Age Concern's ongoing work in this area.报告中提出的问题与“关心老人”组织在这方面正在做的工作有直接的关系。

8 constructive   

adj.建设的，建设性的

参考例句：

• We welcome constructive criticism.我们乐意接受有建设性的批评。
• He is beginning to deal with his anger in a constructive way.他开始用建设性的方法处理自己的怒气。

9 volatile   

adj.反复无常的，挥发性的，稍纵即逝的，脾气火爆的；n.挥发性物质

参考例句：

• With the markets being so volatile,investments are at great risk.由于市场那么变化不定，投资冒着很大的风险。
• His character was weak and volatile.他这个人意志薄弱，喜怒无常。