VOA标准英语2008年-Israel's Olmert Resigns as Prime Minister

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert presented his resignation letter to President Shimon Peres at the president's official residence in Jerusalem Sunday. Olmert faces corruption¹ allegations and is likely to be replaced by Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, who was elected the ruling party's new leader last Wednesday. VOA Jerusalem Correspondent Luis Ramirez reports.
　
Israeli FM Tzipi Livni, left, looks at Israeli PM Ehud Olmert during a weekly cabinet meeting in Jerusalem, 21 Sep 2008

Ehud Olmert has been mired² in a corruption scandal that brought him to promise last July that he would step down as soon as his party picked a new leader.

That happened last Wednesday, when moderate Tzipi Livni won a narrow victory in the Kadima party primaries.

Olmert said he was informing his cabinet about his decision to step down from his post as Prime Minister of Israel.

The outgoing Israeli leader said resigning was not an easy decision, but said it is the worthy³, diplomatic, and responsible thing to do.

Aides said his resignation would become formal late Sunday.
Olmert said he would stand by Livni.

She has just a few weeks to form a coalition⁴ government or Israel will be forced to hold early general elections - a year and a half ahead of schedule.

Olmert's departure is seen by many here as an opportunity to move ahead with U.S.-mediated negotiations⁵ with the Palestinians, which have been stalled over longstanding issues. The corruption scandal was viewed by party members as a distraction⁶ that took attention away from the peace process, and other pressing issues.

Olmert plans to stay on as caretaker of the negotiations while Livni works to set up a governing coalition.

Kadima is anxious to avoid early elections, which could see it lose to right-wing parties supported by those in Israel who believe the centrists are giving too many concessions⁷ to the Palestinians. Right-wing sentiments have been fueled in recent months by security concerns including Iran's nuclear ambitions and the Islamist group Hamas' continued control of the Gaza strip.

 

1 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。

2 mired   

abbr.microreciprocal degree 迈尔德（色温单位）v.深陷( mire的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• The country was mired in recession. 这个国家陷入了经济衰退的困境。
• The most brilliant leadership can be mired in detail. 最有才干的领导也会陷于拘泥琐事的困境中。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

3 worthy   

adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的

参考例句：

• I did not esteem him to be worthy of trust.我认为他不值得信赖。
• There occurred nothing that was worthy to be mentioned.没有值得一提的事发生。

4 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。

5 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。

6 distraction   

n.精神涣散，精神不集中，消遣，娱乐

参考例句：

• Total concentration is required with no distractions.要全神贯注，不能有丝毫分神。
• Their national distraction is going to the disco.他们的全民消遣就是去蹦迪。

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。