2006年VOA标准英语-Israeli Army Seals Hebron After Settler Ri

By Robert Berger
Jerusalem
17 January 2006

Israeli security forces are cracking down on Jewish settlers in the volatile¹ West Bank town of Hebron after days of unrest. The settlers and government appear to be on a collision course.

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A Jewish settler woman looks from a window as Israeli police search the Avraham Avinu Jewish settlement area in Hebron Monday, 16 January 2006  
  

The Israeli army declared Hebron a closed military zone after several days of clashes between security forces and settlers. The unrest was sparked by a government order to evict² Jewish squatters from a Palestinian market, after a court ruled that their presence was illegal.

The settlers are furious over the order and they accuse police and soldiers of using excessive force. "We were invaded by police, border police, riot squads³, horses," David Wilder, a spokesman for the Hebron Jewish community, told Israel Television. "This is a provocation⁴. It's a show of strength. They've entered private property illegally, and we're very upset that the government is using these kind of tactics to try to scare people."

About 500 settlers live among 170,000 Palestinians in Hebron, the only West Bank city divided into Palestinian and Israeli zones. The city is sacred to Jews and Muslims because it is home to the Tomb of the Patriarchs, where Abraham, the common forefather⁵ of both religions, is buried.

The settler families moved into the empty Arab market four years ago, after Palestinian gunmen killed a 10-month-old Jewish baby in Hebron during the height of the Palestinian uprising. Wilder says the settlers will resist. "We're working very hard to stop the expulsion, but we have absolutely no plans to leave of our own accord," he said.

Acting⁶ Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has ordered security forces to deal sternly with rioting settlers. "We will not allow lawlessness," he said, "and we will not come to terms with it."

Olmert supports Israeli withdrawals⁷ from parts of the West Bank, following Israel's pullout from the Gaza Strip in August. That could put him on a collision course with the settlers, if, as polls indicate, he wins national elections on March 28. The clashes in Hebron could signal the opening salvo in the battle for the West Bank.

1 volatile   

adj.反复无常的，挥发性的，稍纵即逝的，脾气火爆的；n.挥发性物质

参考例句：

• With the markets being so volatile,investments are at great risk.由于市场那么变化不定，投资冒着很大的风险。
• His character was weak and volatile.他这个人意志薄弱，喜怒无常。

2 evict   

vt.驱逐，赶出，撵走

参考例句：

• The lessor can evict the lessee for failure to pay rent.出租人可驱逐不付租金的承租人。
• The government always says it's for the greater good when they evict farmers from their land.当政府把农民从他们的土地赶出去的时候，总是号称是为了更大众的利益。

3 squads   

n.（军队中的）班( squad的名词复数 )；（暗杀）小组；体育运动的运动（代表）队；（对付某类犯罪活动的）警察队伍

参考例句：

• Anti-riot squads were called out to deal with the situation. 防暴队奉命出动以对付这一局势。 来自辞典例句
• Three squads constitute a platoon. 三个班组成一个排。 来自辞典例句

4 provocation   

n.激怒，刺激，挑拨，挑衅的事物，激怒的原因

参考例句：

• He's got a fiery temper and flares up at the slightest provocation.他是火爆性子，一点就着。
• They did not react to this provocation.他们对这一挑衅未作反应。

5 forefather   

n.祖先；前辈

参考例句：

• What we are doing today is something never dreamed of by our forefather.我们今天正在做的是我们祖先所不敢想的。
• These are the customs of forefather hand down to us.这些都是先辈传给你们的习俗。

6 acting   

n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的

参考例句：

• Ignore her,she's just acting.别理她，她只是假装的。
• During the seventies,her acting career was in eclipse.在七十年代，她的表演生涯黯然失色。

7 withdrawals   

n.收回，取回，撤回( withdrawal的名词复数 )；撤退，撤走；收回[取回，撤回，撤退，撤走]的实例；推出（组织），提走（存款），戒除毒瘾，对说过的话收回，孤僻

参考例句：

• He has made several withdrawals from his bank account. 他从银行账户上提了几次款。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• It is not the bank's policy to deduct interest on withdrawals. 提款需扣除利息这并非是本银行的政策。 来自辞典例句