Lebanon gives greenlights to Gaza-bound aid ship

    Lebanese Transport Minister Ghazi Aridi confirmed on Sunday night that the ministry¹ had allowed an aid vessel² to sail from Lebanon(黎巴嫩) to Cyprus before heading to Gaza Strip, local An-Nahar daily reported on Monday.
    According to Aridi, his ministry has given the aid ship "Julia" permission to sail from Lebanon's port city of Tripoli following the request from the ship's organizers.
    Aridi's remarks came as Israeli daily Ha'aretz reported that the Jewish state had initiated³ diplomatic（外交的,老练的） efforts designed to prevent the departure of the ship "Mariam," another ship to be used by Lebanese and foreign activists⁴ to carry aid to the enclave.
    Israel has been in touch with the UN, the United States, France, Spain and Germany on this issue, it has also been speaking with the Vatican because "Mariam" is expected to include several dozens of Catholic nuns⁵, Ha'aretz said.
    However, Aridi said "Mariam" was not the ship's name, stressing that the voyage was christened "Mariam" in honor of Virgin⁶ Mary.
    While confirming that Julia's first destination will be Cyprus and not Gaza, the minister stressed that he won't sign on any illegal sail. He said "Julia" was registered in Paris and would have Lebanese and foreigners on board.
    Aridi also stressed that Julia's voyage to Cyprus was not in violation⁷ of UN Security Council resolution 1701 and the vessel would undergo a technical checkup before it sails from Tripoli.
    The Lebanese government is responsible for its decision, Aridi added.
    However, Israeli military sources warned that it would be very easy to take control of Iranian and Lebanese ships because they are from countries which are at enmity with the Jewish state, adding Israel would deal firmly with them, according to Ha'aretz.
    Two Iranian Red Crescent boats also plan to depart for the enclave.(本文由在线英语听力室整理编辑)

1 ministry   

n.(政府的)部；牧师

参考例句：

• They sent a deputation to the ministry to complain.他们派了一个代表团到部里投诉。
• We probed the Air Ministry statements.我们调查了空军部的记录。

2 vessel   

n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管

参考例句：

• The vessel is fully loaded with cargo for Shanghai.这艘船满载货物驶往上海。
• You should put the water into a vessel.你应该把水装入容器中。

3 initiated   

n. 创始人 adj. 新加入的 vt. 开始，创始，启蒙，介绍加入

参考例句：

• He has not yet been thoroughly initiated into the mysteries of computers. 他对计算机的奥秘尚未入门。
• The artist initiated the girl into the art world in France. 这个艺术家介绍这个女孩加入巴黎艺术界。

4 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》

5 nuns   

n.（通常指基督教的）修女， （佛教的）尼姑( nun的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Ah Q had always had the greatest contempt for such people as little nuns. 小尼姑之流是阿Q本来视如草芥的。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• Nuns are under vows of poverty, chastity and obedience. 修女须立誓保持清贫、贞洁、顺从。 来自辞典例句

6 virgin   

n.处女，未婚女子；adj.未经使用的；未经开发的

参考例句：

• Have you ever been to a virgin forest?你去过原始森林吗？
• There are vast expanses of virgin land in the remote regions.在边远地区有大片大片未开垦的土地。

7 violation   

n.违反(行为)，违背(行为)，侵犯

参考例句：

• He roared that was a violation of the rules.他大声说，那是违反规则的。
• He was fined 200 dollars for violation of traffic regulation.他因违反交通规则被罚款200美元。