2007年VOA标准英语-Israel Says It Will Target Hamas Leaders

By Robert Berger
Jerusalem
21 May 2007

Israel confirms that it is targeting the leaders of the Islamic militant¹ group Hamas, hours after a deadly attack on the home of one of its lawmakers in the Gaza Strip. At least 12 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli air strikes during the past 24 hours. As Robert Berger reports from VOA's Jerusalem bureau, Hamas is threatening harsh retaliation².

Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh (2nd L), Hamas leader Khalil al-Haya(C),Hamas MP Ahmed Bahar(L) attend mass funeral for nine victims of al-Haya family killed in Israeli air strike

Israel says both the political and military leaders of Hamas will be targeted because militants³ in Gaza fired more than 130 rockets across the border since Wednesday.

Cabinet Minister Gideon Ezra told Israel Radio that Hamas political leaders are inciting⁴ the Palestinian public and giving the orders to attack the Jewish state. Therefore, he said, they are legitimate⁵ targets.

Ezra made the comments hours after an Israeli aircraft fired a missile that hit the home of a Hamas lawmaker. He was not there, but Palestinians say eight people were killed, including several of his relatives and two militants. The army said it was targeting a group of five Hamas gunmen near the house.

Hamas was outraged⁶ by the air strike and promised revenge. The Hamas military wing called for a renewal⁷ of suicide bombings in Israeli cities.

A Hamas leader in Gaza, Nizar Iyan, said the group will fight until the last Jew is expelled from Israel.

Iyan told Hamas Television that Israel must be wiped off the map and replaced with a Palestinian state.

So the threats and the fighting continue. In another air strike, Israel targeted a car carrying Islamic Jihad militants, killing⁸ four of them. And more rockets have been falling on the Israeli side of the border.

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 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》

3 militants   

激进分子，好斗分子( militant的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The militants have been sporadically fighting the government for years. 几年来，反叛分子一直对政府实施零星的战斗。
• Despite the onslaught, Palestinian militants managed to fire off rockets. 尽管如此，巴勒斯坦的激进分子仍然发射导弹。

4 inciting   

刺激的，煽动的

参考例句：

• What are you up to inciting mutiny and insubordination? 你们干吗在这里煽动骚动的叛乱呀。
• He was charged with inciting people to rebel. 他被控煽动民众起来叛乱。

5 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。

6 outraged   

a.震惊的，义愤填膺的

参考例句：

• Members of Parliament were outraged by the news of the assassination. 议会议员们被这暗杀的消息激怒了。
• He was outraged by their behavior. 他们的行为使他感到愤慨。

7 renewal   

adj.(契约)延期，续订，更新，复活，重来

参考例句：

• Her contract is coming up for renewal in the autumn.她的合同秋天就应该续签了。
• Easter eggs symbolize the renewal of life.复活蛋象征新生。

8 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。