VOA标准英语2008年-Israel to Release Palestinian Prisoners as Good

Israeli and Palestinian leaders met Wednesday in a bid to advance the peace process. Robert Berger reports from the VOA bureau in Jerusalem.
　

Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas, left, and Israeli PM Ehud Olmert shake hands during meeting in Jerusalem, 06 Aug 2008

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert hosted Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas at his official residence in Jerusalem to assess progress in peace talks sponsored by the United States. As a goodwill¹ gesture, Mr. Olmert promised to release an undisclosed number of Palestinian prisoners by the end of the month.

"We are committed to doing everything we can to make this process work," said prime minister's spokesman Mark Regev.

The meeting was the first between the two leaders since Mr. Olmert's announcement a week ago that he would resign in September over a corruption² scandal.

Mr. Abbas asked Mr. Olmert how that would affect negotiations³ on a Palestinian state. Regev says the prime minister responded that he would continue to work for peace as long as he remains⁴ in office.

"I can tell you the prime minister is cool, he's doing the work that needs to be done. I see him conducting the business of government in an ongoing⁵ way," added Regev.

Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat said the political upheaval⁶ in Israel must not stop the peace process.

"It's an internal Israeli matter as far as we're concerned. But at the end of the day, as Palestinians, we want to make peace with all Israelis, not with this party or that person," he said.

Nevertheless, as a lame⁷ duck, Mr. Olmert does not have the political clout⁸ to deliver on major territorial⁹ concessions¹⁰ to the Palestinians. And he has already thrown cold water on the U.S. goal of a peace agreement by the end of the year. Last month, Mr. Olmert told a parliamentary committee that it is impossible to reach an agreement in such a short time because of deep differences over the status of Jerusalem.

1 goodwill   

n.善意，亲善，信誉，声誉

参考例句：

• His heart is full of goodwill to all men.他心里对所有人都充满着爱心。
• We paid ￡10,000 for the shop,and ￡2000 for its goodwill.我们用一万英镑买下了这家商店，两千英镑买下了它的信誉。

2 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。

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 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。

5 ongoing   

adj.进行中的，前进的

参考例句：

• The problem is ongoing.这个问题尚未解决。
• The issues raised in the report relate directly to Age Concern's ongoing work in this area.报告中提出的问题与“关心老人”组织在这方面正在做的工作有直接的关系。

6 upheaval   

n.胀起，(地壳)的隆起；剧变，动乱

参考例句：

• It was faced with the greatest social upheaval since World War Ⅱ.它面临第二次世界大战以来最大的社会动乱。
• The country has been thrown into an upheaval.这个国家已经陷入动乱之中。

7 lame   

adj.跛的，(辩解、论据等)无说服力的

参考例句：

• The lame man needs a stick when he walks.那跛脚男子走路时需借助拐棍。
• I don't believe his story.It'sounds a bit lame.我不信他讲的那一套。他的话听起来有些靠不住。

8 clout   

n.用手猛击；权力，影响力

参考例句：

• The queen may have privilege but she has no real political clout.女王有特权，但无真正的政治影响力。
• He gave the little boy a clout on the head.他在那小男孩的头部打了一下。

9 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。

10 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。