VOA标准英语2009年-Palestinian Leader Says Israeli Attacks on Gaza

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas told the European Parliament the Israeli attacks on Gaza were war crimes and that Israeli officials should be held accountable. Mr. Abbas spoke¹ during a tour of Europe to drum up support for peace talks and reconstruction² in Gaza.
　
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas

Speaking to lawmakers in Strasbourg, France, Mr. Abbas reiterated³ his calls for a unity⁴ government with Hamas, which runs the Gaza Strip. He also had harsh words for Israel.

Mr. Abbas said Israel committed war crimes during its offensive in Gaza, which ended last month. He said those who decided⁵ to launch the attacks should be held responsible.

His remarks came during a European tour aimed to secure backing for the Middle East peace process and help in reconstructing Gaza after the 23-day conflict. He met earlier in the week with French President Nicolas Sarkozy and his foreign minister. The European Union is the largest contributor to the Palestinian territories.

European Parliament President Hans-Gert Pottering told reporters the European Union and its parliament wanted to be a fair partner when it came to the Middle East conflict.

"A fair partner for the people in Palestine and a fair partner for the people in Israel," he said. "We have to do our utmost now in the framework of the quartet, that means the United Nations, the European Union, Russia, the United States, together with the Arab countries and the Palestinian Authority and Israel ... to get a peace solution on the basis of two countries, a safe Israel and a safe Palestine within the borders of their states."

Human rights groups and medics say roughly 1,300 Palestinians were killed during Israeli offensive. Thirteen Israelis were also killed. Rights groups argue Israel and Hamas violated the laws of war, a claim rejected by both parties.

On Tuesday, the International Criminal Court in The Hague said the Palestinian Authority had recognized its jurisdiction⁶, a step toward a possible war crimes investigation⁷. But there remain many obstacles to such a probe, in part, because only states can recognize the court's authority, and the international community does not recognize the Palestinian territories as a state.

1 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

2 reconstruction   

n.重建，再现，复原

参考例句：

• The country faces a huge task of national reconstruction following the war.战后，该国面临着重建家园的艰巨任务。
• In the period of reconstruction,technique decides everything.在重建时期，技术决定一切。

3 reiterated   

反复地说，重申( reiterate的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• "Well, I want to know about it,'she reiterated. “嗯，我一定要知道你的休假日期，"她重复说。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹
• Some twenty-two years later President Polk reiterated and elaborated upon these principles. 大约二十二年之后，波尔克总统重申这些原则并且刻意阐释一番。

4 unity   

n.团结，联合，统一；和睦，协调

参考例句：

• When we speak of unity,we do not mean unprincipled peace.所谓团结，并非一团和气。
• We must strengthen our unity in the face of powerful enemies.大敌当前，我们必须加强团结。

5 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

6 jurisdiction   

n.司法权，审判权，管辖权，控制权

参考例句：

• It doesn't lie within my jurisdiction to set you free.我无权将你释放。
• Changzhou is under the jurisdiction of Jiangsu Province.常州隶属江苏省。

7 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。