Pope: 'Unprecedented Violence' in Middle East

Greg Lamotte

Cairo

2 Aug 2001 15:59 UTC

Pope John Paul says the Middle East has reached a point of "unheard of" violence. The 1)pontiff expressed his concern after a meeting Thursday outside Rome with Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat.

The unprecedented violence between Israel and the Palestinians must end and both sides must return to the 2)negotiating table. Those were the comments of Pope John Paul following his meeting with Mr. Arafat.

Italy is the latest stop in Mr. Arafat's campaign to gain support for his 3)proposal to have international monitors sent to the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Mr. Arafat was given a 25-minute private 4)audience at the pope's summer residence southeast of Rome.

Afterward, a statement issued at the Vatican said the pope expressed his concern and 5)anguish over what he called the "unprecedented violence between Israel and the Palestinians" and the growing numbers of victims. The statement said the pope 6)appealed for a complete 7)cessation of 8)bloodletting so that peace talks could resume.

There was, however, no mention of papal support for international monitors in the Palestinian territories, something Israel opposes.

Earlier Thursday Mr. Arafat met with Italian leaders in Rome and warned violence in the Middle East could 9)spiral out of control and have 10)repercussions beyond the region if international force is not deployed. He also accused Israel of planning to 11)assassinate Palestinian activists.

Israel has said it will continue its policy of attacking Palestinian militants it considers a threat to Israeli security.

(1)      pontiff[5pRntIf]n.罗马教皇, 主教, 大祭司

(2)      negotiating table 谈判桌

(3)      proposal[prE5pEJz(E)l]n.提议, 建议

(4)      audience[5C:dIEns]n.听众, 观众, 接见, 拜见

(5)      anguish[5ANgwIF; 5AN^wIF]n.痛苦, 苦恼vt.使极痛苦vi.感到痛苦

(6)      appeal[E5pi:l]n.请求, 呼吁, 要求vi.求助, 诉请, 要求vt.控诉

(7)      cessation[se5seIF(E)n]n.停止

(8)      bloodletting n.放血

(9)      spiral[5spaIEr(E)l]adj.螺旋形的n.螺旋v.盘旋

(10)      repercussion[ri:pE5kQF(E)n]n.弹回, 反响, (光、声等的)反射

(11)      assassinate[E5sAsIneIt]vt.暗杀, 行刺