2006年VOA标准英语-Israel Poised for Gaza Assault as Kidnappers of

By Robert Berger
Jerusalem
27 June 2006
 

Israeli army personnel carriers and tanks are seen at a gathering¹ point near the border with the Gaza Strip, June 26, 2006  
  
Israel is poised² for an assault on the Palestinian-ruled Gaza Strip, following the kidnapping of an Israeli soldier. The kidnappers³ have issued their first demands.

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Israel is massing armor and troops on the Gaza border and is threatening to strike at the leaders of the Palestinian government, controlled by the Islamic militant⁴ group Hamas. Israeli spokesman Mark Regev says Israel's demands are clear.

"The immediate⁵, unequivocal, unconditional⁶ release of the serviceman," he said.

Israel holds Hamas responsible because gunmen from the group were involved in the Sunday kidnapping of the 19-year-old Israeli corporal from an Israeli Army base on the Gaza border. Israel says it was an act of aggression⁷, in light of the withdrawal⁸ of all soldiers and settlers from Gaza last August. Therefore, the army is poised for harsh retaliation⁹.

"This is legitimate¹⁰ under the right of every nation state for self-defense," said Regev.

Hamas has urged Israel to resolve the standoff peacefully.

"The Palestinian government is making an effort to resolve this problem," Hamas spokesman Ghazi Hamad told Israel Radio in fluent Hebrew. He says Hamas has urged the kidnappers to treat the soldier well. At the same time, the government has not publicly called for his release.

The Hamas military wing and two other groups holding the soldier have issued their first demands. They say Israel will not receive any information about the captive soldier until Palestinian women and children under the age of 18 are released from Israeli prisons. That would total about 500 people. Israel rejected the demand, saying it would not negotiate with terrorists

1 gathering   

n.集会，聚会，聚集

参考例句：

• He called on Mr. White to speak at the gathering.他请怀特先生在集会上讲话。
• He is on the wing gathering material for his novels.他正忙于为他的小说收集资料。

2 poised   

a.摆好姿势不动的

参考例句：

• The hawk poised in mid-air ready to swoop. 老鹰在半空中盘旋，准备俯冲。
• Tina was tense, her hand poised over the telephone. 蒂娜心情紧张，手悬在电话机上。

3 kidnappers   

n.拐子，绑匪( kidnapper的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• They were freed yesterday by their kidnappers unharmed. 他们昨天被绑架者释放了，没有受到伤害。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The kidnappers had threatened to behead all four unless their jailed comrades were released. 帮匪们曾经威胁说如果印度方面不释放他们的同伙，他们就要将这四名人质全部斩首。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 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。

5 immediate   

adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的

参考例句：

• His immediate neighbours felt it their duty to call.他的近邻认为他们有责任去拜访。
• We declared ourselves for the immediate convocation of the meeting.我们主张立即召开这个会议。

6 unconditional   

adj.无条件的，无限制的，绝对的

参考例句：

• The victorious army demanded unconditional surrender.胜方要求敌人无条件投降。
• My love for all my children is unconditional.我对自己所有孩子的爱都是无条件的。

7 aggression   

n.进攻，侵略，侵犯，侵害

参考例句：

• So long as we are firmly united, we need fear no aggression.只要我们紧密地团结，就不必惧怕外来侵略。
• Her view is that aggression is part of human nature.她认为攻击性是人类本性的一部份。

8 withdrawal   

n.取回，提款；撤退，撤军；收回，撤销

参考例句：

• The police were forced to make a tactical withdrawal.警方被迫进行战术撤退。
• They insisted upon a withdrawal of the statement and a public apology.他们坚持要收回那些话并公开道歉。

9 retaliation   

n.报复，反击

参考例句：

• retaliation against UN workers 对联合国工作人员的报复
• He never said a single word in retaliation. 他从未说过一句反击的话。 来自《简明英汉词典》

10 legitimate   

adj.合法的，合理的，合乎逻辑的；v.使合法

参考例句：

• Sickness is a legitimate reason for asking for leave.生病是请假的一个正当的理由。
• That's a perfectly legitimate fear.怀有这种恐惧完全在情理之中。