VOA常速英语2008年-Israel to Redistribute Gas Masks Amid Fears of

By Robert Berger
Jerusalem
02 April 2008

Israel is strengthening security on its home front in a sign of war jitters¹. As Robert Berger reports from VOA's Jerusalem bureau, Israel is casting a wary² eye toward Iran.

Israel's security Cabinet has decided³ to redistribute gas masks to the entire population amid fears of a non-conventional war with Iran. The last distribution was before the U.S. invasion of Iraq four years ago. The gas masks were collected last year because they were out of date.

Deputy Defense⁴ Minister Matan Vilnai initiated⁵ the redistribution.

Vilnai told Israel Radio that handing out gas masks does not mean that war with Iran is imminent⁶.

Nevertheless, there is growing concern here about Iran's nuclear program and threats by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to wipe Israel "off the map."

"We are worried," said Israeli spokesman Mark Regev.

Iran insists that its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes. But Regev says Iran is stalling in negotiations⁷ with the international community as it moves closer to building a nuclear bomb.

"We are concerned that the Iranian strategy is very clear," he said. "They want to keep talking and talking and talking, but at the same time to aggressively move forward on their nuclear program."

Iran is seen as an existential threat, and that has raised speculation⁸ that Israel might launch a pre-emptive strike on Iranian nuclear facilities. Israeli officials have warned time and again that they will not allow Iran to acquire nuclear weapons and that there is a military option.

Iran has ballistic missiles that can hit anywhere in Israel, and it has warned of fierce retaliation⁹ in the event of an Israeli attack.

1 jitters   

n.pl.紧张(通常前面要有the)

参考例句：

• I always get the jitters before exams. 我考试前总是很紧张。
• The whole city had the jitters from the bombing. 全城居民都为轰炸而心神不宁。

2 wary   

adj.谨慎的，机警的，小心的

参考例句：

• He is wary of telling secrets to others.他谨防向他人泄露秘密。
• Paula frowned,suddenly wary.宝拉皱了皱眉头，突然警惕起来。

3 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

4 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。

5 initiated   

n. 创始人 adj. 新加入的 vt. 开始，创始，启蒙，介绍加入

参考例句：

• He has not yet been thoroughly initiated into the mysteries of computers. 他对计算机的奥秘尚未入门。
• The artist initiated the girl into the art world in France. 这个艺术家介绍这个女孩加入巴黎艺术界。

6 imminent   

adj.即将发生的，临近的，逼近的

参考例句：

• The black clounds show that a storm is imminent.乌云预示暴风雨即将来临。
• The country is in imminent danger.国难当头。

7 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。

8 speculation   

n.思索，沉思；猜测；投机

参考例句：

• Her mind is occupied with speculation.她的头脑忙于思考。
• There is widespread speculation that he is going to resign.人们普遍推测他要辞职。

9 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》