2007年VOA标准英语-Olmert Clashes With Watchdog Over Lebanon War R

By Robert Berger
Jerusalem
07 March 2007

An investigation¹ into Israeli efforts to protect civilians² during last year's war in Lebanon has erupted into an open conflict, pitting the prime minister against the top government watchdog.  As Robert Berger reports from VOA's Jerusalem bureau, it is the latest in a series of aftershocks from the war that is shaking Israel's political and military leadership.

Micha Lindenstrauss speaks during meeting of Knesset State Control Committee in Jerusalem, 6 March 2007

With his popularity at an all time low in the wake of the Lebanon war, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert is taking even more heat-this time from State Comptroller Micha Lindenstrous.  He had planned to issue a scathing³ interim⁴ report accusing Mr. Olmert of leaving Israeli civilians virtually defenseless in the face of Hezbollah rocket attacks.

Hezbollah, an Islamic guerrilla group based in Lebanon, fired more than 4,000 rockets at Israel during the 34-day war in July and August of last year.  Critics say residents of northern Israel suffered from poor conditions in bomb shelters, no early warning systems in some towns, and no evacuation plans.

Attorney Michael Pardem of the Movement for Quality Government says the state comptroller is responding to the mood of the Israeli public.

"The public is very anxious to move forward on ascertaining⁵ and studying and investigating what happened in the home front, particularly in the north, during the war and I think, in that sense, we have to support the efforts of the comptroller," he said.

But Mr. Olmert blocked publication of the interim report, accusing the comptroller of conducting a witch hunt.  The prime minister described the report as one-sided and said he was not given enough time to present his case.

Israel Democracy Institute President Arik Carmon says the state comptroller has crossed the line of neutrality.

"He must give the opportunity of those examined to respond to the finding[s] before concluding, before conclusion.  This is the case in any kind of examination," he said.

The comptroller will issue his final report at an undisclosed date, and it will clearly be harshly critical of both the government and army.  That raises questions about Mr. Olmert's political survival.  The Israeli army chief resigned over admitted failures of the Lebanon war, and the prime minister is under growing pressure to follow suit. 

1 investigation   

n.调查，调查研究

参考例句：

• In an investigation,a new fact became known, which told against him.在调查中新发现了一件对他不利的事实。
• He drew the conclusion by building on his own investigation.他根据自己的调查研究作出结论。

2 civilians   

平民，百姓( civilian的名词复数 )； 老百姓

参考例句：

• the bloody massacre of innocent civilians 对无辜平民的血腥屠杀
• At least 300 civilians are unaccounted for after the bombing raids. 遭轰炸袭击之后，至少有300名平民下落不明。

3 scathing   

adj.（言词、文章）严厉的，尖刻的；不留情的adv.严厉地，尖刻地v.伤害，损害（尤指使之枯萎）( scathe的现在分词)

参考例句：

• a scathing attack on the new management 针对新的管理层的猛烈抨击
• Her speech was a scathing indictment of the government's record on crime. 她的演讲强烈指责了政府在犯罪问题上的表现。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 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。

5 ascertaining   

v.弄清，确定，查明( ascertain的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• I was ascertaining whether the cellar stretched out in front or behind. 我当时是要弄清楚地下室是朝前还是朝后延伸的。 来自辞典例句
• The design and ascertaining of permanent-magnet-biased magnetic bearing parameter are detailed introduced. 并对永磁偏置磁悬浮轴承参数的设计和确定进行了详细介绍。 来自互联网