VOA标准英语2009-Israel Mulls Pullout from Arab Village on Lebano

Israel's new right-wing government is considering a territorial¹ concession² to Lebanon.
　
An elderly Israeli Arab in his home in the village of Ghajar on the border with Lebanon, 03 May 2009

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu supports pulling out of a disputed Arab village on Israel's northern border and handing it over to Lebanon. Israeli officials say Mr. Netanyahu might offer the concession when he meets U.S. President Barack Obama at the White House later this month.

Israel captured the village of Ghajar from Syria during the Six Day War in 1967 and annexed³ it along with the Golan Heights in 1981. Today, Israel claims half of Ghajar; Lebanon claims all of it.

The Israeli newspaper Ha'aretz writes that the United States contends an Israeli withdrawal⁴ from Ghajar would strengthen moderates in Lebanon ahead of upcoming elections. The western-backed Lebanese government is facing a major challenge from the Islamic militant⁵ group Hezbollah in a vote scheduled for June 7.

But when news of a possible Israeli pullout reached Ghajar, residents were angry.

Rajib Khattib, a spokesman for Ghajar, said Mr. Netanyahu is going to the United States to "sell the village."

He told Israel Television that the village was a part of Syria and the Golan Heights, and that it has nothing to do with Lebanon.

But it could be a win-win situation for Mr. Netanyahu, who opposes the U.S. push for a Palestinian state. By endorsing⁶ a Ghajar pullout, analysts⁷ say the prime minister can show President Obama that he is flexible; while at the same time relieving Israel of a largely Arab village that is often cited as a focal point for espionage⁸ and drug smuggling⁹.

1 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。

2 concession   

n.让步，妥协；特许(权)

参考例句：

• We can not make heavy concession to the matter.我们在这个问题上不能过于让步。
• That is a great concession.这是很大的让步。

3 annexed   

[法] 附加的，附属的

参考例句：

• Germany annexed Austria in 1938. 1938年德国吞并了奥地利。
• The outlying villages were formally annexed by the town last year. 那些偏远的村庄于去年正式被并入该镇。

4 withdrawal   

n.取回，提款；撤退，撤军；收回，撤销

参考例句：

• The police were forced to make a tactical withdrawal.警方被迫进行战术撤退。
• They insisted upon a withdrawal of the statement and a public apology.他们坚持要收回那些话并公开道歉。

5 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。

6 endorsing   

v.赞同( endorse的现在分词 )；在（尤指支票的）背面签字；在（文件的）背面写评论；在广告上说本人使用并赞同某产品

参考例句：

• Yet Communist leaders are also publicly endorsing religion in an unprecedented way. 不过，共产党领导层对宗教信仰的公开认可也是以前不曾有过的。 来自互联网
• Connecticut Independent Senator Joseph Lieberman is endorsing Republican Senator John McCain. 康涅狄格州独立派参议员约瑟夫。列波曼将会票选共和议员约翰。麦凯恩。 来自互联网

7 analysts   

分析家，化验员( analyst的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• City analysts forecast huge profits this year. 伦敦金融分析家预测今年的利润非常丰厚。
• I was impressed by the high calibre of the researchers and analysts. 研究人员和分析人员的高素质给我留下了深刻印象。

8 espionage   

n.间谍行为，谍报活动

参考例句：

• The authorities have arrested several people suspected of espionage.官方已经逮捕了几个涉嫌从事间谍活动的人。
• Neither was there any hint of espionage in Hanley's early life.汉利的早期生活也毫无进行间谍活动的迹象。

9 smuggling   

n.走私

参考例句：

• Some claimed that the docker's union fronted for the smuggling ring.某些人声称码头工人工会是走私集团的掩护所。
• The evidence pointed to the existence of an international smuggling network.证据表明很可能有一个国际走私网络存在。