VOA常速英语2008年-Cheney: US Will Never Pressure Israel if Securi

By Robert Berger
Jerusalem
22 March 2008

United States Vice¹ President Dick Cheney is in Israel, the latest stop on a Middle East tour. As Robert Berger reports from the VOA bureau in Jerusalem, he hopes to advance the peace process.

Vice President Dick Cheney went right into a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert. The Vice President began with a message of reassurance².

"The United States will never pressure Israel to take steps that threaten its security," he said.

Cheney said the U.S. backs Israel's right to defend itself against Palestinian rocket attacks from the Gaza Strip, which is ruled by the Islamic militant³ group Hamas.

But he said America would also work for peace between Israel and the moderate Palestinian government in the West Bank.

"On this journey, I am reiterating⁴ the President's commitment to his vision of two democratic states, Israel and Palestine living side-by-side in peace and security."

President Bush's goal is to reach a peace agreement before he leaves office in January. "Reaching the necessary agreement will require tough decisions and painful concessions⁵ by both sides, but America is committed to moving the process forward," he said.

In response, Prime Minister Olmert said Israel would do its part for peace. "We are anxious to carry on the peace negotiations⁶ with the Palestinians," he said.

But he warned of threats from radical⁷ forces in the region. "We are watching very carefully the northern front, the behavior of Syria and the Hizbollah and naturally I know how much concerned America is with the continued terrorist attacks against Israel coming from Gaza against innocent civilians," he said.

On Sunday, Cheney will attend an Easter service in Jerusalem, and then travel to the West Bank for talks with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.

1 vice   

n.坏事；恶习；[pl.]台钳，老虎钳；adj.副的

参考例句：

• He guarded himself against vice.他避免染上坏习惯。
• They are sunk in the depth of vice.他们堕入了罪恶的深渊。

2 reassurance   

n.使放心，使消除疑虑

参考例句：

• He drew reassurance from the enthusiastic applause.热烈的掌声使他获得了信心。
• Reassurance is especially critical when it comes to military activities.消除疑虑在军事活动方面尤为关键。

3 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。

4 reiterating   

反复地说，重申( reiterate的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• He keeps reiterating his innocence. 他一再申明他无罪。
• The Chinese government also sent a note to the British government, reiterating its position. 中国政府同时将此立场照会英国政府。

5 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。

6 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。

7 radical   

n.激进份子，原子团，根号；adj.根本的，激进的，彻底的

参考例句：

• The patient got a radical cure in the hospital.病人在医院得到了根治。
• She is radical in her demands.她的要求十分偏激。