VOA标准英语2009-Israel Considers Compromise on Settlement Fr

Israel is considering a compromise with the United States on the thorny¹ issue of Jewish settlements.

Israel's Cabinet discussed the possibility of a partial freeze on construction in Jewish settlements at its weekly meeting. Israel has been seeking a compromise, following repeated demands by the United States to halt settlement expansion as required by the internationally backed "Roadmap" peace plan.
　
Israel's Defense² Minister Ehud Barak, 28 Jun 2009

The issue will top the agenda when Defense Minister Ehud Barak visits the U.S. this week.

Barak said he will discuss a wide range of issues with American officials, including resuming peace talks with the Palestinians and a comprehensive peace with the Arab states. But the Palestinians are refusing to return to the negotiating table until Israel agrees to a settlement freeze.

Barak would neither confirm nor deny a report in Israel's biggest newspaper, Yediot Ahronot, that he would propose a three-month halt to construction starts in West Bank settlements, but allow building already underway to continue.

"The matter mentioned in the headlines has not been finalized," Barak said.

Barak's dovish Labor³ party supports a partial settlement freeze, but hawks⁴ in the government do not. Cabinet Minister Gilad Erdan is from the ruling Likud Party.

Erdan said it is unimaginable that a right-wing Likud government would permit a construction freeze that violates the civil rights of the settlers.

Under the U.S.-backed "Roadmap" peace plan, Israel is required to halt construction.

Ideologically⁵, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu agrees with that. But pragmatically, he could seek a compromise because he is anxious to heal a deepening rift⁶ with Washington.

1 thorny   

adj.多刺的，棘手的

参考例句：

• The young captain is pondering over a thorny problem.年轻的上尉正在思考一个棘手的问题。
• The boys argued over the thorny points in the lesson.孩子们辩论功课中的难点。

2 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。

3 labor   

n.劳动，努力，工作，劳工；分娩；vi.劳动，努力，苦干；vt.详细分析；麻烦

参考例句：

• We are never late in satisfying him for his labor.我们从不延误付给他劳动报酬。
• He was completely spent after two weeks of hard labor.艰苦劳动两周后，他已经疲惫不堪了。

4 hawks   

鹰( hawk的名词复数 )； 鹰派人物，主战派人物

参考例句：

• Two hawks were hover ing overhead. 两只鹰在头顶盘旋。
• Both hawks and doves have expanded their conditions for ending the war. 鹰派和鸽派都充分阐明了各自的停战条件。

5 ideologically   

adv. 意识形态上地，思想上地

参考例句：

• Ideologically, they have many differences. 在思想意识上，他们之间有许多不同之处。
• He has slipped back ideologically. 他思想退步了。

6 rift   

n.裂口，隙缝，切口；v.裂开，割开，渗入

参考例句：

• He was anxious to mend the rift between the two men.他急于弥合这两个人之间的裂痕。
• The sun appeared through a rift in the clouds.太阳从云层间隙中冒出来。