2007年VOA标准英语-Israel's Ehud Barak Stages Political Comeback

By Jim Teeple
Jerusalem
13 June 2007

Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak will take over as head of the Labor¹ Party. VOA's Jim Teeple reports from Jerusalem that Mr. Barak is expected to become Israel's new defense² minister in the coalition³ government of Prime Minister Ehud Olmert.

Former prime minister Ehud Barak waves to the crowd after declaring his victory in a vote for Israel's Labour party leadership, 13 June 2007

Staging a dramatic political comeback, Ehud Barak defeated former domestic intelligence chief Ami Ayalon to take back the leadership of the Labor Party. Speaking to his supporters after winning the hard-fought contest, Mr. Barak pledged to restore confidence in Israel's military.

The former prime minister says he will work for uncompromising security, pursue peace and make sure Israel's military might and deterrence⁴ will be respected again.

Amir Peretz, who has served as defense minister, was ousted⁵ two weeks ago as Labor Party chairman, following widespread criticism of his decision-making during last year's war in Lebanon.

Earlier this year, Mr. Barak called on Prime Minister Ehud Olmert to step down for his conduct during the war. Now, however, Mr. Barak is expected to join the cabinet - replacing Peretz as defense minister.

Uri Dromi of the Israel Democracy Institute says the position could lead Ehud Barak back to Israel's top job.

"I think what you are going to see is Barak staying - serving as defense minister and dealing⁶ with the top security issues like Syria, Hezbollah, Gaza and on top of everything - the Iranian nuclear threat," Dromi said. "Then at one point he will probably declare that he is now having his eye on the top position as prime minister, and we will see him breaking away from the government and new elections."

Mr. Olmert's Kadima Party and Ehud Barak's Labor Party are the two main parties in the governing coalition. Polls show both would lose to former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud Party if elections were held today.

However Uri Dromi says if Mr. Barak does well as defense minister those poll numbers could change.

"People here are very sensitive to defense issues because it is about our existence," Dromi noted⁷. "If he takes the right decisions and gives the impression that this is a new Ehud Barak and not the whimsical, erratic⁸ and inexperienced leader he was in the former term, then I think you will see his ratings will rise."

Ehud Barak is a former commando and Israel's most decorated soldier. He was soundly defeated by Ariel Sharon six years ago after serving a tumultuous two years as prime minister. During his term he pulled Israeli troops out of Lebanon and tried unsuccessfully to pursue peace deals with Syria and the Palestinians.

His government collapsed⁹ when the second Palestinian intifada began, which left more than one thousand Israelis and 4,000 Palestinians dead.

1 labor   

n.劳动，努力，工作，劳工；分娩；vi.劳动，努力，苦干；vt.详细分析；麻烦

参考例句：

• We are never late in satisfying him for his labor.我们从不延误付给他劳动报酬。
• He was completely spent after two weeks of hard labor.艰苦劳动两周后，他已经疲惫不堪了。

2 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。

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 deterrence   

威慑，制止； 制止物，制止因素； 挽留的事物； 核威慑

参考例句：

• An extreme school of "disarmers" pronounced stable deterrence was a dangerous deception. “裁军论者”中的极端派声称，稳定的威摄是一种危险的骗局。
• Escalation is thus an aspect of deterrence and of crisis management. 因此逐步升级是威慑和危机处理的一个方面。

5 ousted   

驱逐( oust的过去式和过去分词 )； 革职； 罢黜； 剥夺

参考例句：

• He was ousted as chairman. 他的主席职务被革除了。
• He may be ousted by a military takeover. 他可能在一场军事接管中被赶下台。

6 dealing   

n.经商方法，待人态度

参考例句：

• This store has an excellent reputation for fair dealing.该商店因买卖公道而享有极高的声誉。
• His fair dealing earned our confidence.他的诚实的行为获得我们的信任。

7 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

8 erratic   

adj.古怪的，反复无常的，不稳定的

参考例句：

• The old man had always been cranky and erratic.那老头儿性情古怪,反复无常。
• The erratic fluctuation of market prices is in consequence of unstable economy.经济波动致使市场物价忽起忽落。

9 collapsed   

adj.倒塌的

参考例句：

• Jack collapsed in agony on the floor. 杰克十分痛苦地瘫倒在地板上。
• The roof collapsed under the weight of snow. 房顶在雪的重压下突然坍塌下来。