VOA标准英语2009年-Mustafa Case Highlights Uneasy Egyptian-Is

By Elizabeth Arrott
Cairo, Egypt
08 October 2009
A prominent Egyptian editor faces disciplinary charges for meeting with Israel's ambassador. An inquiry¹ by her colleagues is set for the coming days, and is expected to highlight the clash between political ends and freedom of the press. 

Hala Mustafa met with Israeli ambassador Shalom Cohen last month in her office at the semi-official and wholly-powerful al-Ahram media in Cairo. 

The meeting violated a long-standing rule of Egypt's press syndicate, or union, that forbids any contact between its members and Israelis.

 
Egyptian journalist Hala Mustafa edits al-Ahram's Democracy magazine, 08 Oct. 2009
Mustafa, who edits al-Ahram's Democracy magazine, says the position, taken in 1983, is not in keeping with national interests. 

"I think that Egypt, since it represents a moderate trend in the region, adopts dialogue as a method, as a tool to deal with the world," Mustafa said. "I think we have as individuals the right to follow the same policy or to adopt the same way of thinking."

Egypt's relations with Israel are among the strongest in the Arab world. Cairo prides itself on its role in trying to restart stalled peace talks and just this week, has been trying to mediate² a calm between Palestinians and Israelis over Jerusalem's al-Aqsa mosque³. The two also have strong economic and scientific ties.

But members of the press syndicate argue that cultural "normalization⁴" represents defeat. They want to keep the ban to pressure Israel over the status of Palestinians and Israel's encroachment⁵ in Arab parts of Jerusalem. 

An editorial in al-Ahram Thursday likens normalization to the defeat suffered by Native Americans who let distractions⁶ lead to their doom⁷ in the battle against European settlers. 

Mustafa argues that whatever the original point of the ban, it has been so widely violated as to become meaningless. She notes that among the many Egyptian writers to not only meet with Israelis but to actually visit Israel is the chairman of al-Ahram, Abdel Moneim Said, the author of that editorial.

"That is why I am talking publicly, clearly, frankly⁸ that this resolution taken by the press syndicate in the early 80s should now be revised, to be re-thought for the interest of Egypt, for the interest of the peace, for the interest of the future of the young generations, of the coming generations," Mustafa said.

Mustafa is expected to go before her colleagues Saturday to explain her actions.

1 inquiry   

n.打听，询问，调查，查问

参考例句：

• Many parents have been pressing for an inquiry into the problem.许多家长迫切要求调查这个问题。
• The field of inquiry has narrowed down to five persons.调查的范围已经缩小到只剩5个人了。

2 mediate   

vi.调解，斡旋；vt.经调解解决；经斡旋促成

参考例句：

• The state must mediate the struggle for water resources.政府必须通过调解来解决对水资源的争夺。
• They may be able to mediate between parties with different interests.他们也许能在不同利益政党之间进行斡旋。

3 mosque   

n.清真寺

参考例句：

• The mosque is a activity site and culture center of Muslim religion.清真寺为穆斯林宗教活动场所和文化中心。
• Some years ago the clock in the tower of the mosque got out of order.几年前，清真寺钟楼里的大钟失灵了。

4 normalization   

n.（normalisation）正常化，标准化

参考例句：

• The visit signalled the normalization of relations between the two countries.这次访问显示两国关系已经正常化。
• He was pleased to the normalization of relationship between the police and the people.他很高兴警方和人民之间关系的正常化。

5 encroachment   

n.侵入，蚕食

参考例句：

• I resent the encroachment on my time.我讨厌别人侵占我的时间。
• The eagle broke away and defiantly continued its encroachment.此时雕挣脱开对方，继续强行入侵。

6 distractions   

n.使人分心的事[人]( distraction的名词复数 )；娱乐，消遣；心烦意乱；精神错乱

参考例句：

• I find it hard to work at home because there are too many distractions. 我发觉在家里工作很难，因为使人分心的事太多。
• There are too many distractions here to work properly. 这里叫人分心的事太多，使人无法好好工作。 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 doom   

n.厄运，劫数；v.注定，命定

参考例句：

• The report on our economic situation is full of doom and gloom.这份关于我们经济状况的报告充满了令人绝望和沮丧的调子。
• The dictator met his doom after ten years of rule.独裁者统治了十年终于完蛋了。

8 frankly   

adv.坦白地，直率地；坦率地说

参考例句：

• To speak frankly, I don't like the idea at all.老实说，我一点也不赞成这个主意。
• Frankly speaking, I'm not opposed to reform.坦率地说，我不反对改革。