2006年VOA标准英语-Israel to Accelerate Construction of West

By Robert Berger
Jerusalem
30 April 2006

Israeli interim¹ Prime Minister Ehud Olmert attends the weekly cabinet meeting in Jerusalem, April 30, 2006  
  
Israel has decided² to accelerate construction of its controversial West Bank separation barrier as Palestinian efforts to halt the project have failed.

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The Israeli Cabinet agreed on several changes in the route of the West Bank security barrier that will enable construction to proceed more quickly.

"We must move forward," said Interim Prime Minister Ehud Olmert. He said Palestinian suicide bombers³ will continue to pose a threat in the future, and completing the fence will enable Israel to improve its counter-terrorism capabilities⁴.

The new route of the barrier effectively annexes⁵ some West Bank territory, in order to protect two big Jewish settlement blocks. Therefore, Palestinians say, it is a land grab that will lead to more conflict. They say many Palestinians have been cut off from their land, schools, social services and families.

But Israeli analyst⁶ Dan Schueftan says, what is important to the Israeli government is that the fence saves Jewish lives.

"It is of major strategic importance, and I am delighted, better late than never, that now they understand that they must speed it up," said Schueftan.

Israel began building the barrier four years ago, but construction has been slowed by legal obstacles and bureaucracy. But Israel fears a new wave of Palestinian terror following the recent election of the Islamic militant⁷ group, Hamas, and therefore, completing the fence became a national priority.

The World Court in The Hague has ruled that the barrier is illegal under international law and must be torn down. But as far as Israel is concerned, the sooner the fence is built, the better.

1 interim   

adj.暂时的，临时的；n.间歇，过渡期间

参考例句：

• The government is taking interim measures to help those in immediate need.政府正在采取临时措施帮助那些有立即需要的人。
• It may turn out to be an interim technology.这可能只是个过渡技术。

2 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

3 bombers   

n.轰炸机( bomber的名词复数 )；投弹手；安非他明胶囊；大麻叶香烟

参考例句：

• Enemy bombers carried out a blitz on the city. 敌军轰炸机对这座城市进行了突袭。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The Royal Airforce sill remained dangerously short of bombers. 英国皇家空军仍未脱离极为缺乏轰炸机的危境。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 capabilities   

n.能力( capability的名词复数 )；可能；容量；[复数]潜在能力

参考例句：

• He was somewhat pompous and had a high opinion of his own capabilities. 他有点自大，自视甚高。 来自辞典例句
• Some programmers use tabs to break complex product capabilities into smaller chunks. 一些程序员认为，标签可以将复杂的功能分为每个窗格一组简单的功能。 来自About Face 3交互设计精髓

5 annexes   

并吞( annex的名词复数 )； 兼并； 强占； 并吞（国家、地区等）； 附加物，附属建筑( annexe的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The Annexes to this Agreement are an integral part of this Agreement. 本协定的附件为本协定的组成部分。
• Annexes 1 to 2 form the integral part of the Contract. 附件一至二将作为本合同的有效组成部分。

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 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。