VOA标准英语10月-Peres Says Israel Heading for Decisive Election C

Israeli President Shimon Peres says Israel is heading toward early elections after prime minister-designate Tzipi Livni failed to form a coalition¹ government. VOA Jerusalem correspondent Luis Ramirez reports the elections could lead to a change of direction for the Palestinian peace negotiations³.
　

President Shimon Peres (r) and Prime Minister Ehud Olmert at the Knesset, 27 Oct 2008

President Shimon Peres told Israeli lawmakers there is no choice but to hold elections, after Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni gave up efforts to form a coalition government.

Peres spoke⁴ at the opening of the winter session of the Knesset, Israel's parliament.

He said Israel will start a decisive election campaign in the coming days.

The election may bring a clear change of direction for negotiations with the Palestinians. The U.S.-sponsored talks have been going on for almost a year, but remain stuck on the key issues including Palestinian refugees, and the status of Jerusalem, which both sides claim as their capital.

The poll will pit Livni's ruling centrist Kadima party against the Likud Party of right-wing opposition⁵ candidate Benjamin Netanyahu.

Livni is a pragmatist who favors negotiation², and has spoken of a need to make territorial⁶ concessions⁷ in return for peace.

Netanyahu also wants to negotiate, but opposes handing over territory that Israel gained in the 1967 Arab Israeli War. He launched his campaign at the Knesset, promising⁸ that any future agreement with the Palestinians will not include handing over parts of the West Bank and the Golan Heights.

He said Jerusalem will not be up for negotiation in any talks he has with the Palestinians.

His remarks prompted angry shouts from Arab-Israeli lawmakers.

Once the Knesset formally approves plans for the poll, the election will likely be scheduled for early 2009 - more than a year ahead of schedule.

The winner will replace Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, who resigned in September as he faced corruption⁹ allegations. He remains¹⁰ in office as a caretaker until a new government is in place.

1 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。

2 negotiation   

n.谈判，协商

参考例句：

• They closed the deal in sugar after a week of negotiation.经过一星期的谈判，他们的食糖生意成交了。
• The negotiation dragged on until July.谈判一直拖到7月份。

3 negotiations   

协商( negotiation的名词复数 )； 谈判； 完成（难事）； 通过

参考例句：

• negotiations for a durable peace 为持久和平而进行的谈判
• Negotiations have failed to establish any middle ground. 谈判未能达成任何妥协。

4 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

5 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

6 territorial   

adj.领土的，领地的

参考例句：

• The country is fighting to preserve its territorial integrity.该国在为保持领土的完整而进行斗争。
• They were not allowed to fish in our territorial waters.不允许他们在我国领海捕鱼。

7 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。

8 promising   

adj.有希望的，有前途的

参考例句：

• The results of the experiments are very promising.实验的结果充满了希望。
• We're trying to bring along one or two promising young swimmers.我们正设法培养出一两名有前途的年轻游泳选手。

9 corruption   

n.腐败，堕落，贪污

参考例句：

• The people asked the government to hit out against corruption and theft.人民要求政府严惩贪污盗窃。
• The old man reviled against corruption.那老人痛斥了贪污舞弊。

10 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。