2006年VOA标准英语-Abbas Mulls Next Move as Unity Talks with Hamas

By Robert Berger
Jerusalem

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is mulling his next move after talks on forming a national unity¹ government with the ruling Islamic militant² group Hamas collapsed⁴. As Robert Berger reports from VOA's Jerusalem bureau, it is the latest chapter in a deepening power struggle between the Palestinian leader, who is a moderate, and Hamas, which seeks Israel's destruction.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas (File)

Mr. Abbas convened⁵ top officials of his Fatah party to map out a strategy, after declaring that talks on a more moderate government with Hamas have failed. The Palestinian president has been trying for months to form a unity government, in which Fatah and Hamas would share power. The aim is to end crippling international sanctions on Hamas, which the U.S. and Europe regard as a terrorist organization.

Mr. Abbas has two options: He can dismiss the Hamas-led government, or call early elections.

"In my opinion, I think that Abbas, the only thing he can do, is just to call for new elections," said Palestinian analyst⁶ Bassam Eid.

But that option is not attractive. If Mr. Abbas calls new elections, there is no guarantee that his Fatah party would defeat Hamas. While Hamas rule has brought economic hardship on the Palestinian people, they ousted⁷ Fatah from power because it was widely seen as corrupt⁸.

Eid says the Palestinians must choose between the lesser⁹ of two evils.

"The Palestinians should have to think very well about their future," he said. "Otherwise, with Hamas, there is no Palestinian future at all."

Hamas and Fatah militiamen have frequently clashed, as the power struggle between the two groups deepens. The unity talks brought a period of relative calm, but Eid believes the collapse³ of dialogue raises the prospect¹⁰ of more violence.

"Yes, unfortunately, that's going to continue, in my opinion," he said.

Hamas denies that talks with Mr. Abbas have broken down. It says he is bluffing¹¹, to pressure the group into making more concessions¹². But Hamas says it will never recognize Israel, a key international condition for the lifting of sanctions. Therefore, Mr. Abbas say the talks have reached a "dead end."

1 unity   

n.团结，联合，统一；和睦，协调

参考例句：

• When we speak of unity,we do not mean unprincipled peace.所谓团结，并非一团和气。
• We must strengthen our unity in the face of powerful enemies.大敌当前，我们必须加强团结。

2 militant   

adj.激进的，好斗的；n.激进分子，斗士

参考例句：

• Some militant leaders want to merge with white radicals.一些好斗的领导人要和白人中的激进派联合。
• He is a militant in the movement.他在那次运动中是个激进人物。

3 collapse   

vi.累倒；昏倒；倒塌；塌陷

参考例句：

• The country's economy is on the verge of collapse.国家的经济已到了崩溃的边缘。
• The engineer made a complete diagnosis of the bridge's collapse.工程师对桥的倒塌做了一次彻底的调查分析。

4 collapsed   

adj.倒塌的

参考例句：

• Jack collapsed in agony on the floor. 杰克十分痛苦地瘫倒在地板上。
• The roof collapsed under the weight of snow. 房顶在雪的重压下突然坍塌下来。

5 convened   

召开( convene的过去式 )； 召集； （为正式会议而）聚集； 集合

参考例句：

• The chairman convened the committee to put the issue to a vote. 主席召集委员们开会对这个问题进行表决。
• The governor convened his troops to put down the revolt. 总督召集他的部队去镇压叛乱。

6 analyst   

n.分析家，化验员；心理分析学家

参考例句：

• What can you contribute to the position of a market analyst?你有什么技能可有助于市场分析员的职务？
• The analyst is required to interpolate values between standards.分析人员需要在这些标准中插入一些值。

7 ousted   

驱逐( oust的过去式和过去分词 )； 革职； 罢黜； 剥夺

参考例句：

• He was ousted as chairman. 他的主席职务被革除了。
• He may be ousted by a military takeover. 他可能在一场军事接管中被赶下台。

8 corrupt   

v.贿赂，收买；adj.腐败的，贪污的

参考例句：

• The newspaper alleged the mayor's corrupt practices.那家报纸断言市长有舞弊行为。
• This judge is corrupt.这个法官贪污。

9 lesser   

adj.次要的，较小的；adv.较小地，较少地

参考例句：

• Kept some of the lesser players out.不让那些次要的球员参加联赛。
• She has also been affected,but to a lesser degree.她也受到波及，但程度较轻。

10 prospect   

n.前景，前途；景色，视野

参考例句：

• This state of things holds out a cheerful prospect.事态呈现出可喜的前景。
• The prospect became more evident.前景变得更加明朗了。

11 bluffing   

n. 威吓，唬人 动词bluff的现在分词形式

参考例句：

• I don't think he'll shoot—I think he's just bluffing. 我认为他不会开枪—我想他不过是在吓唬人。
• He says he'll win the race, but he's only bluffing. 他说他会赢得这场比赛，事实上只是在吹牛。

12 concessions   

n.（尤指由政府或雇主给予的）特许权( concession的名词复数 )；承认；减价；（在某地的）特许经营权

参考例句：

• The firm will be forced to make concessions if it wants to avoid a strike. 要想避免罢工，公司将不得不作出一些让步。
• The concessions did little to placate the students. 让步根本未能平息学生的愤怒。