2006年VOA标准英语-Olmert Meets Jordan's King, West Bank Pullout N

By Jim Teeple
Jerusalem
08 June 2006

Israel's Prime Minister Ehud Olmert held talks Thursday with King Abdullah of Jordan in the Jordanian capital, Amman.  It was Mr. Olmert's second visit to an Arab nation in the past week. 

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King Abdullah II of Jordan, right, and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, left, shake hands after addressing media at Royal palace in Amman, Jordan, Thursday, June 8, 2006  
  

Ehud Olmert and King Abdullah met for an hour in a low-key meeting largely overshadowed by the news that Jordanian-born terrorist Abu Musab al-Zarqawi had been killed in neighboring Iraq.

The two men did not comment on the al-Zarqawi death although they did reportedly discuss the killing¹ in their meeting. 

Both leaders read brief statements following their discussions but did not take questions from reporters.  Prime Minister Olmert did not address his plan to withdraw from most of the West Bank, while keeping several large settlement blocs² there and draw Israel's border with the Palestinians along the lines of the controversial separation barrier.  Instead, he said he will seek a negotiated settlement with the Palestinians, and will meet soon with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.  Mark Regev a spokesman for Israel's Foreign Ministry³ says Israel will engage with Jordan on any plans for the West Bank.

"We want to hear their security concerns," he said. "We have a good security relationship with Jordan. There is a common strategic understanding that what is good for Jordan is good for Israel.  Jordan is a crucial element in our national security. A strong vibrant⁴ Jordan is a plus for Israel." 

In an interview with an Israeli newspaper earlier this week King Abdullah criticized Mr. Olmert's plans for the West Bank saying Israel's relations with Jordan will be hurt if Mr. Olmert pursues unilateral actions in the area.  In his statement on Thursday, the Jordanian monarch⁵ said a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict based on the international "road map peace plan" is the only solution that should be sought. 

Similar comments were made by Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak earlier this week following a meeting he held with Mr. Olmert in the Egyptian resort town of Sharm el Sheikh.

1 killing   

n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财

参考例句：

• Investors are set to make a killing from the sell-off.投资者准备清仓以便大赚一笔。
• Last week my brother made a killing on Wall Street.上个周我兄弟在华尔街赚了一大笔。

2 blocs   

n.集团，联盟( bloc的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The division of Europe into warring blocs produces ever-increasing centrifugal stress. 把欧洲分为作战集团产生了越来越大的离心效果。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The policy of the two blocs was played out. 把世界分为两个集团的政策已经过时了。 来自辞典例句

3 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。

4 vibrant   

adj.震颤的，响亮的，充满活力的，精力充沛的，(色彩)鲜明的

参考例句：

• He always uses vibrant colours in his paintings. 他在画中总是使用鲜明的色彩。
• She gave a vibrant performance in the leading role in the school play.她在学校表演中生气盎然地扮演了主角。

5 monarch   

n.帝王，君主，最高统治者

参考例句：

• The monarch's role is purely ceremonial.君主纯粹是个礼仪职位。
• I think myself happier now than the greatest monarch upon earth.我觉得这个时候比世界上什么帝王都快乐。