VOA常速英语2007-Israeli, Palestinian Leaders Meet in Jerusalem

By Robert Berger
Jerusalem
26 October 2007

Israeli and Palestinian leaders met in Jerusalem Friday for talks that focused on the creation of a Palestinian state and new Israeli sanctions on the Gaza Strip. Robert Berger has this report from Jerusalem.

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert hosted Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas for about two hours at his official residence in Jerusalem. It was the latest in a series of summit meetings aimed at hammering out a declaration on Palestinian statehood. They hope to present the document at an international peace conference in the United States planned for later this year.

"The focus is, as we move forward toward this international meeting towards the end of the year, is how best can we all strengthen the process of historic reconciliation¹ between Israelis and Palestinians, said Israeli government spokesman Mark Regev.

But the gaps are wide on the document on Palestinian statehood. With right-wing factions² threatening to quit Israel's coalition³ government if he makes major concessions⁴, Mr. Olmert prefers a vague declaration of principles. Mr. Abbas wants Israeli commitments on core issues such as the status of Jerusalem, Palestinian refugees and final borders.

Palestinian negotiator Yasser Abed Rabbo believes an agreement can be reached in time for the conference.

Abed Rabbo told Israel Radio that there are serious differences, but negotiators are working hard to resolve them.

The meeting was overshadowed by an Israeli decision to impose limited electricity cuts in the Gaza Strip in response to Palestinian rocket attacks. Gaza is ruled by the Islamic militant⁵ group Hamas, which defeated Mr. Abbas's Fatah forces in a Palestinian civil war in June.

Palestinian officials condemned⁶ the Israeli decision, describing it as collective punishment. But Prime Minister Olmert promised President Abbas that Israel would not cause a humanitarian⁷ crisis in Gaza.

1 reconciliation   

n.和解，和谐，一致

参考例句：

• He was taken up with the reconciliation of husband and wife.他忙于做夫妻间的调解工作。
• Their handshake appeared to be a gesture of reconciliation.他们的握手似乎是和解的表示。

2 factions   

组织中的小派别，派系( faction的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The gens also lives on in the "factions." 氏族此外还继续存在于“factions〔“帮”〕中。 来自英汉非文学 - 家庭、私有制和国家的起源
• rival factions within the administration 政府中的对立派别

3 coalition   

n.结合体，同盟，结合，联合

参考例句：

• The several parties formed a coalition.这几个政党组成了政治联盟。
• Coalition forces take great care to avoid civilian casualties.联盟军队竭尽全力避免造成平民伤亡。

4 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。

5 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。

6 condemned   

adj. 被责难的, 被宣告有罪的 动词condemn的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• He condemned the hypocrisy of those politicians who do one thing and say another. 他谴责了那些说一套做一套的政客的虚伪。
• The policy has been condemned as a regressive step. 这项政策被认为是一种倒退而受到谴责。

7 humanitarian   

n.人道主义者，博爱者，基督凡人论者

参考例句：

• She has many humanitarian interests and contributes a lot to them.她拥有很多慈善事业，并作了很大的贡献。
• The British government has now suspended humanitarian aid to the area.英国政府现已暂停对这一地区的人道主义援助。