VOA标准英语2008年-President Bush Arrives in Israel on a Five-Day

By Jim Teeple
Jerusalem
14 May 2008

President George Bush has arrived in Israel, the first stop on his five-day trip to the Middle East. Mr. Bush comes to Israel to help celebrate the country's 60th anniversary, and advance the Mideast peace process, but his efforts could be complicated by a growing criminal probe surrounding Israel's prime minister. VOA's Jim Teeple has details from our Jerusalem bureau.

Mr. Bush received a warm welcome from Israelis as he arrived to help celebrate Israel's 60th anniversary, and encourage talks between Israelis and Palestinians, aimed at reaching a framework for a peace agreement by the end of this year.

This is Mr. Bush's second visit to Israel this year. He was welcomed at Ben Gurion airport by Israel's President Shimon Peres, and by Prime Minister Ehud Olmert who called the U.S. President Israel's closest ally.

"America has been there at each and every important crossroad in the life of our young country and stood by us in times of hope and in moments of crisis," said Mr. Olmert. "Since assuming office almost eight years ago, President George Bush has been our closest ally and partner."

In his remarks Mr. Bush noted¹ that both Israel and the United States faced strong challenges when founded, and both countries shared the same principles which have allowed them to succeed.

Mr. Bush and Mr. Olmert began bilateral² talks in Jerusalem shortly after the arrival ceremony, focusing on peace talks between Israel and the moderate Palestinian government of President Mahmoud Abbas. Mr. Bush will meet with Mr. Abbas at a summit on Saturday in the Egyptian resort of Sharm el-Sheikh, but Palestinians are angry that he is not traveling to the Palestinian territories as he did in January.

Meanwhile a police corruption³ investigation⁴ into allegations that Mr. Olmert received bribes⁵ from an American businessman while he was Mayor of Jerusalem is intensifying⁶. Mr. Olmert says he will resign if indicted⁷ but says he is innocent. Reuvan Hazan who teaches political science at Hebrew University says after five corruption investigations⁸ in two years many Israelis have given up on their prime minister.

"Most Israelis, according to the polls we have today do not believe he is innocent and think that he should go," he said.

For his part, Mr. Bush has voiced confidence in Mr. Olmert calling him an "honest man" and says in any case the Israeli-Palestinian peace process does not depend on any one individual.

1 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。

2 bilateral   

adj.双方的，两边的，两侧的

参考例句：

• They have been negotiating a bilateral trade deal.他们一直在商谈一项双边贸易协定。
• There was a wide gap between the views of the two statesmen on the bilateral cooperation.对双方合作的问题，两位政治家各自所持的看法差距甚大。

3 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。

4 investigation   

n.调查，调查研究

参考例句：

• In an investigation,a new fact became known, which told against him.在调查中新发现了一件对他不利的事实。
• He drew the conclusion by building on his own investigation.他根据自己的调查研究作出结论。

5 bribes   

n.贿赂( bribe的名词复数 )；向（某人）行贿，贿赂v.贿赂( bribe的第三人称单数 )；向（某人）行贿，贿赂

参考例句：

• It was alleged that he had taken bribes while in office. 他被指称在任时收受贿赂。
• corrupt officials accepting bribes 接受贿赂的贪官污吏

6 intensifying   

v.（使）增强， （使）加剧( intensify的现在分词 )；增辉

参考例句：

• The allies are intensifying their air campaign. 联军部队正加大他们的空战强度。 来自辞典例句
• The rest of the European powers were in a state of intensifying congestion. 其余的欧洲强国则处于越来越拥挤的状态。 来自英汉非文学 - 历史

7 indicted   

控告，起诉( indict的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• The senator was indicted for murder. 那位参议员被控犯谋杀罪。
• He was indicted by a grand jury on two counts of murder. 他被大陪审团以两项谋杀罪名起诉。

8 investigations   

（正式的）调查( investigation的名词复数 )； 侦查； 科学研究； 学术研究

参考例句：

• His investigations were intensive and thorough but revealed nothing. 他进行了深入彻底的调查，但没有发现什么。
• He often sent them out to make investigations. 他常常派他们出去作调查。