VOA标准英语2009年-Israel to Approve More Settlement Construc

Under pressure from the United States, Israel is sending mixed signals on the controversial issue of West Bank settlements.
　
General view of the West Bank Jewish settlement of Beitar Ilit, 04 Sep 2009

Israel plans to approve the construction of hundreds of new homes in the West Bank before agreeing to a U.S. demand for a freeze on settlement expansion. In addition, Israel would finish some 2,500 other housing units currently under construction.

"We have been in continuous discussions with the U.S. administration in the effort to reach a compromise that is reasonable and sustainable and those efforts are ongoing," said Israeli spokesman Ron Dermer.

But Israel's view of a compromise falls far short of U.S. President Barack Obama's demand for a complete freeze on settlement expansion. The United States sees the settlements as an obstacle to peace, and the issue has strained relations between Washington and Israel since right-wing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu took office five months ago.

Palestinian officials say there is no settlement freeze, and the only thing Israel has frozen is the peace process. Palestinian spokeswoman Diana Buttu says the ball is now in America's court.

"I hope that given that President Obama has expressed enthusiasm that he will begin to put into place some controls in terms of what it is Israel is doing, put into place pressure on Israel. Without that, then I don't think we're going to see anything concrete, anything different," said Buttu.

Prime Minister Netanyahu is walking a tightrope¹, trying to please both the U.S. and his nationalist coalition² partners who support Jewish settlement in all the biblical Land of Israel. If he goes too far toward appeasing³ the U.S., the hawks⁴ could topple his government, and therefore Mr. Netanyahu is trying to find middle ground.

1 tightrope   

n.绷紧的绳索或钢丝

参考例句：

• The audience held their breath as the acrobat walked along the tightrope.杂技演员走钢丝时，观众都屏住了呼吸。
• The tightrope walker kept her balance by holding up an umbrella.走钢丝的演员举着一把伞，保持身体的均衡。

2 coalition   

n.结合体，同盟，结合，联合

参考例句：

• The several parties formed a coalition.这几个政党组成了政治联盟。
• Coalition forces take great care to avoid civilian casualties.联盟军队竭尽全力避免造成平民伤亡。

3 appeasing   

安抚，抚慰( appease的现在分词 )； 绥靖（满足另一国的要求以避免战争）

参考例句：

• Mr. Chamberlain had cherished the hope of appeasing and reforming him and leading him to grace. 张伯伦先生则满心想安抚他，感化他，教他温文知礼。
• A pleasing preacher is too often an appeasing preacher. 一昧讨好的传道人通常是姑息妥协的传道人。

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。