VOA常速英语2007-Jerusalem Summit Focuses on Palestinian Statehoo

By Robert Berger
Jerusalem
03 October 2007

Israeli and Palestinian leaders have met in a fresh effort to advance the peace process. As Robert Berger reports from VOA's Jerusalem bureau, there is cautious optimism on both sides.

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert hosted Western-backed Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas at his home in Jerusalem. It was their sixth meeting in recent months, a sign of improving ties since the Islamic militant¹ group Hamas seized control of the Gaza Strip three months ago, leaving the Fatah group of Mr. Abbas in control of the West Bank.

The two leaders are working to draft a document on Palestinian statehood to be presented at an international peace conference planned for November in the United States.

Spokesman Mark Regev says Israel is optimistic about reaching agreement on a joint² statement.

"What we are trying to do at the moment, what the process as we lead up to November is, to see if it is possible to find a common ground, widest possible common ground, of what two states are, what is this peace that we are looking for," he said.

But the two leaders are deeply divided. Israel seeks a vague declaration of principles, while Mr. Abbas wants a detailed³ agreement on major issues such as the status of Jerusalem, Palestinian refugees, and final borders.

Palestinian official Hussein al-Sheikh believes the gaps can be bridged. He told Israel Radio that with goodwill⁴ on both sides, the peace conference will succeed and there will be hope for a better future.

Officials in Egypt and Saudi Arabia have warned that if the conference makes no progress on concrete issues, it could do more harm than good.

And Hamas, which seeks Israel's destruction, has warned Mr. Abbas against reaching a peace deal. The group urged him to abandon what it called "the illusion of peace" and return to armed struggle.

1 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。

2 joint   

adj.联合的，共同的；n.关节，接合处；v.连接，贴合

参考例句：

• I had a bad fall,which put my shoulder out of joint.我重重地摔了一跤，肩膀脫臼了。
• We wrote a letter in joint names.我们联名写了封信。

3 detailed   

adj.详细的，详尽的，极注意细节的，完全的

参考例句：

• He had made a detailed study of the terrain.他对地形作了缜密的研究。
• A detailed list of our publications is available on request.我们的出版物有一份详细的目录备索。

4 goodwill   

n.善意，亲善，信誉，声誉

参考例句：

• His heart is full of goodwill to all men.他心里对所有人都充满着爱心。
• We paid ￡10,000 for the shop,and ￡2000 for its goodwill.我们用一万英镑买下了这家商店，两千英镑买下了它的信誉。