VOA标准英语2014--欧美谴责以色列在东耶路撒冷建设住房

 

Israel Rebuked¹ for Controversial East Jerusalem Housing 欧美谴责以色列在东耶路撒冷建设住房

JERUSALEM— 

The governments of Europe and the United States have criticized Israel for announcing it will build 2,600 new housing units in a sensitive part of East Jerusalem.  They believe it hinders efforts to secure a peace accord with the Palestinians.  Activists² say the new neighborhood would complete a band of Jewish areas separating Jerusalem from nearby Bethlehem.   

Midday at Givat Hamatos in southeast Jerusalem.  Herders from the nearby Arab neighborhood, Beit Safafa, have brought their sheep to graze.

Twenty years ago Givat Hamatos was a temporary community of new immigrants from Ethiopia and Russia.  Most have long gone, leaving about two dozen impoverished³ households and a lot of empty space.

 Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wants to change that and build 2,600 homes on this land.  But it lies on the other side of the so-called “Green Line” demarcation zone and is considered by the international community to be part of the Palestinian West Bank.

Activists like "Peace Now" Director Yariv Openheimer said this hurt efforts to establish a Palestinian state alongside the Israeli state.

“When Netanyahu is saying that he is in favor of a two-state solution, he needs to explain how can he say it while at the same time he continues to approve settlement expansion and expansion of settlements in east Jerusalem," said Openheimer.

The Israeli government also has recognized the settlement of Gva’ot in the Gush⁴ Etzion region further south near Bethlehem.  It said no one owns this land, but it will allow 45 days for any objections, said Regional Council head, David Perl.

“If someone thinks it is wrong, he can come and do whatever he wants.  No one wants to steal a piece of land from Arabs or anyone else.  We would be more than happy that they continue to live here.  But if there is land that does not belong to them, then we can build communities for us and we are more than happy to do it,” he said.

Israeli officials said anyone could live in these new communities.  But critics said very few Arabs have moved into other such neighborhoods.  Senior Palestinian official Mohammed Shtayyeh said it was really part of an effort to drive non-Israelis from Jerusalem.

 “All what Israel really intends to do is to change the demographic structure of Jerusalem.  This is a process of the Judaisation of Jerusalem and this is an affront⁵ in the face of all the international efforts to really resume and achieve peace in the region," he said.

Israeli officials say they need new housing for the city’s growing population. Critics said Givat Hamatos would serve primarily to isolate⁶ Arab neighborhoods in Jerusalem from the West Bank. 

1 rebuked   

责难或指责( rebuke的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• The company was publicly rebuked for having neglected safety procedures. 公司因忽略了安全规程而受到公开批评。
• The teacher rebuked the boy for throwing paper on the floor. 老师指责这个男孩将纸丢在地板上。

2 activists   

n.（政治活动的）积极分子，活动家( activist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• His research work was attacked by animal rights activists . 他的研究受到了动物权益维护者的抨击。
• Party activists with lower middle class pedigrees are numerous. 党的激进分子中有很多出身于中产阶级下层。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 impoverished   

adj.穷困的，无力的，用尽了的v.使（某人）贫穷( impoverish的过去式和过去分词 )；使（某物）贫瘠或恶化

参考例句：

• the impoverished areas of the city 这个城市的贫民区
• They were impoverished by a prolonged spell of unemployment. 他们因长期失业而一贫如洗。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 gush   

v.喷，涌；滔滔不绝(说话)；n.喷，涌流；迸发

参考例句：

• There was a gush of blood from the wound.血从伤口流出。
• There was a gush of blood as the arrow was pulled out from the arm.当从手臂上拔出箭来时，一股鲜血涌了出来。

5 affront   

n./v.侮辱，触怒

参考例句：

• Your behaviour is an affront to public decency.你的行为有伤风化。
• This remark caused affront to many people.这句话得罪了不少人。

6 isolate   

vt.使孤立，隔离

参考例句：

• Do not isolate yourself from others.不要把自己孤立起来。
• We should never isolate ourselves from the masses.我们永远不能脱离群众。