VOA标准英语2014--African Migrant Protest in Israel Enters 4th Day 非洲移民在以色列抗议进入第四天

 

African Migrant Protest in Israel Enters 4th Day 非洲移民在以色列抗议进入第四天

JERUSALEM — In Israel, several thousand African migrants demonstrated Wednesday for a fourth day against a new law that allows authorities to detain indefinitely those without valid¹ visas. The migrants say they are political refugees -- but the government insists they are economic migrants.

The Migrants chanted that they are not criminals but rather refugees, as they gathered in front of the protested the Israeli Knesset.

The asylum² seekers, who are mostly from Sudan and Eritrea, say Israel makes it difficult to obtain or renew their visas and rarely grants asylum.  But the government considers them to be infiltrators looking for work and wants them to leave.

“I’m a refugee. I’m from a tough region where a genocide happened. So I’m looking for protection, not for more fear because I live in fear, but to fix all the laws which were passed and treat us as human beings,” explained Adam Ahmed who came to Israel from Darfur five years ago.

According to the government, more than 50,000 Africans have entered Israel in the past seven years.  Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Monday that the influx³ had virtually stopped since the completion last year of a five-meter-high fence along the border with Egypt.

“I want to make clear that demonstrations⁴ won't help them and strikes won't help," Netanyahu said.  "Just as we managed to stop completely the illegal infiltration⁵ of our borders so we are also determined⁶ to remove from here those who succeeded in entering before we closed the border.”

Rights workers counter that claim, noting that the migrants take low-paying jobs that Israelis don’t want.  But Israelis in some neighborhoods complain they have brought crime and fear.

The director of the Israel Project advocacy group, Marcus Sheff, said Israel is a small nation that cannot absorb such an influx.  But he said the government should approach the problem humanely⁷.

“These issues are all over the world," noted⁸ Sheff. "They’re very, very complicated indeed and sorting out the difference between those people who genuinely need political asylum and illegal economic immigrants is something governments are struggling with.”

The demonstrators vow⁹ to continue their protests and are threatening hunger strikes to further press their demands. 

1 valid   

adj.有确实根据的；有效的；正当的，合法的

参考例句：

• His claim to own the house is valid.他主张对此屋的所有权有效。
• Do you have valid reasons for your absence?你的缺席有正当理由吗？

2 asylum   

n.避难所，庇护所，避难

参考例句：

• The people ask for political asylum.人们请求政治避难。
• Having sought asylum in the West for many years,they were eventually granted it.他们最终获得了在西方寻求多年的避难权。

3 influx   

n.流入，注入

参考例句：

• The country simply cannot absorb this influx of refugees.这个国家实在不能接纳这么多涌入的难民。
• Textile workers favoured protection because they feared an influx of cheap cloth.纺织工人拥护贸易保护措施，因为他们担心涌入廉价纺织品。

4 demonstrations   

证明( demonstration的名词复数 )； 表明； 表达； 游行示威

参考例句：

• Lectures will be interspersed with practical demonstrations. 讲课中将不时插入实际示范。
• The new military government has banned strikes and demonstrations. 新的军人政府禁止罢工和示威活动。

5 infiltration   

n.渗透；下渗；渗滤；入渗

参考例句：

• The police tried to prevent infiltration by drug traffickers. 警方尽力阻止毒品走私分子的潜入。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• A loss in volume will occur if infiltration takes place. 如果发生了渗润作用，水量就会减少。 来自辞典例句

6 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。

7 humanely   

adv.仁慈地；人道地；富人情地；慈悲地

参考例句：

• Is the primary persona being treated humanely by the product? 该产品对待首要人物角色时是否有人情味？ 来自About Face 3交互设计精髓
• In any event, China's interest in treating criminals more humanely has limits. 无论如何，中国对更人道地对待罪犯的兴趣有限。 来自互联网

8 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

9 vow   

n.誓(言)，誓约；v.起誓，立誓

参考例句：

• My parents are under a vow to go to church every Sunday.我父母许愿，每星期日都去做礼拜。
• I am under a vow to drink no wine.我已立誓戒酒。