VOA标准英语2009年-Israel Hit by Rockets From Lebanon as Gaza War

Several rockets have been fired from Lebanon into northern Israel, as fighting and rocket fire continues in the south and Gaza.
　

An Israeli woman walks in her damaged kitchen after a rocket fired from southern Lebanon hit the northern Israeli town of Nahariya, 08 Jan 2009

Air raid sirens in Israel - this time in the north, where rockets were fired from Lebanon.

In southern Lebanon, U.N. peacekeeping forces Deputy Spokesman Andrea Tenenti, confirmed the firing.

"We can confirm that at least three rockets early this morning were fired into Israel from about seven-kilometers east of Naqoura in south Lebanon," he said.

The rockets hit in and around the Israeli border town, Nahariya.

A home for the elderly in Nahariya was hit and two people were reported to have been slightly injured.

Israel responded with artillery¹ fire. Lebanese security officials say they are investigating the incident.

Lebanonese Prime Minister Fuad Siniora condemned² the attack as an attempt to undermine stability and also condemned the Israeli response.
　

French UN peacekeeper tanks patrol the area where rockets were fired from south Lebanon into north Israel, in the village of Tayr Harfa, south of Lebanon, 08 Jan 2009

There was no immediate³ claim of responsibility and initial indications were that a splinter Palestinian group in Lebanon may have been responsible and not necessarily the militant⁴ Shiite group Hezbollah, with whom Israel fought a bloody⁵ war in 2006.

There is no indication that the rocket fire from Lebanon signals the opening up of a second front of fighting for Israel. But that possibility is something that has Israeli officials concerned.

When he announced the beginning of the ground offensive in Gaza, Defense⁶ Minister Ehud Barak said Israel would keep close watch on its northern border.

"We hope the situation will remain calm. Nevertheless, we are ready and alert to face any unwarranted development in that area," said Barak.

Fighting continued in Gaza, including more than 60 Israeli air strikes reported overnight. Palestinian militants⁷ also continue to fire rockets into southern Israel.

Israel announced another suspension of fighting for three hours to allow distribution of food, fuel and other humanitarian⁸ goods in Gaza and to allow Gaza residents to get supplies and medical help. It is the second day in a row of such a lull⁹ in fighting, but aid officials say a three-hour suspension is not enough.

Israel is sending a senior envoy¹⁰ to Egypt to talk about a possible ceasefire. Representatives from Hamas and the Palestinian Authority were also expected to meet separately, in Egypt, to discuss an end to the fighting in Gaza.

1 artillery   

n.(军)火炮，大炮；炮兵(部队)

参考例句：

• This is a heavy artillery piece.这是一门重炮。
• The artillery has more firepower than the infantry.炮兵火力比步兵大。

2 condemned   

adj. 被责难的, 被宣告有罪的 动词condemn的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• He condemned the hypocrisy of those politicians who do one thing and say another. 他谴责了那些说一套做一套的政客的虚伪。
• The policy has been condemned as a regressive step. 这项政策被认为是一种倒退而受到谴责。

3 immediate   

adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的

参考例句：

• His immediate neighbours felt it their duty to call.他的近邻认为他们有责任去拜访。
• We declared ourselves for the immediate convocation of the meeting.我们主张立即召开这个会议。

4 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。

5 bloody   

adj.非常的的；流血的；残忍的；adv.很；vt.血染

参考例句：

• He got a bloody nose in the fight.他在打斗中被打得鼻子流血。
• He is a bloody fool.他是一个十足的笨蛋。

6 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。

7 militants   

激进分子，好斗分子( militant的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The militants have been sporadically fighting the government for years. 几年来，反叛分子一直对政府实施零星的战斗。
• Despite the onslaught, Palestinian militants managed to fire off rockets. 尽管如此，巴勒斯坦的激进分子仍然发射导弹。

8 humanitarian   

n.人道主义者，博爱者，基督凡人论者

参考例句：

• She has many humanitarian interests and contributes a lot to them.她拥有很多慈善事业，并作了很大的贡献。
• The British government has now suspended humanitarian aid to the area.英国政府现已暂停对这一地区的人道主义援助。

9 lull   

v.使安静，使入睡，缓和，哄骗；n.暂停，间歇

参考例句：

• The drug put Simpson in a lull for thirty minutes.药物使辛普森安静了30分钟。
• Ground fighting flared up again after a two-week lull.经过两个星期的平静之后，地面战又突然爆发了。

10 envoy   

n.使节，使者，代表，公使

参考例句：

• Their envoy showed no sign of responding to our proposals.他们的代表对我方的提议毫无回应的迹象。
• The government has not yet appointed an envoy to the area.政府尚未向这一地区派过外交官。