VOA标准英语2009年-Netanyahu Says His Government Wants Partne

（单词翻译）

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says his new government will be a partner for peace with the Palestinians. The statement appears to mark a departure for Mr. Netanyahu, whose campaign promises called for Israel to make few concessions² in the peace process.
　
Benjamin Netanyahu looks on during an economic conference in Jerusalem, 25 Mar¹ 2009

Mr. Netanyahu spoke³ a day after he succeeded in winning the participation⁴ of the left-of-center Labor⁵ party in his new coalition⁶ government.

His remarks, made at an economic forum⁷ in Jerusalem, marked a change of tone for a man who campaigned as one who would give few concessions to the Palestinians and whose first priority would not be negotiations⁹.

"The Palestinians should understand that they have in our government a partner for peace, for security, and for rapid economic development of the Palestinian economy," he said.

Mr. Netanyahu has worked to temper his image as he struggles to build a coalition that would cater¹⁰ to the wants of an electorate¹¹ that called for a tough stance on the Palestinians, and at the same time maintain Israel's good relations with Washington and others in the international community.

The United States has urged Israel to work toward a two-state solution, and wants it to stop expanding Jewish settlements in the territories it occupies.

Mr. Netanyahu has not declared his support for a two-state solution. He has also said he supports allowing Jewish settlements to expand.

Yisrael Beiteinu, one of the parties that earlier joined his coalition, calls for the exclusion¹² of Arabs from Israel, while the other, the ultra-Orthodox Shas party, rejects any negotiation⁸ on the status of Jerusalem. Both the Israelis and the Palestinians claim the city as their capital.

These issues could potentially derail any new attempts to put the peace process back on track.

Palestinian officials cautiously welcomed Mr. Netanyahu's remarks on Wednesday. A spokesman for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said Israel's new government must be committed to a two-state solution.

The support of the Labor party gives Mr. Netanyahu the parliament majority he needs to form a government before an April 3 deadline.