VOA标准英语2009年-Netanyahu Reaches Out to Settlers Ahead of

Under pressure from the United States to halt settlement expansion, Israel's leader is trying to calm the fears of one of his most important constituents¹: Jewish residents of the West Bank.
　
Benjamin Netanyahu (file photo)

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reached out to Jewish settlers angry over his plan to declare a partial freeze on settlement construction in response to demands by the United States. Mr. Netanyahu is a hawk² who has long supported Israel's controversial settlement enterprise. And his message was defiant³. He said Israelis will compromise for peace but will not be "suckers."

Mr. Netanyahu told a gathering⁴ of his right-wing Likud party that the settlers are "good and loyal citizens of the State of Israel." He said they would be allowed to "live normal lives," a reference to permitting some construction in the settlements to accommodate "natural growth."

The U.S. has demanded a complete freeze on settlement expansion, including natural growth, but Mr. Netanyahu is offering a compromise. Current construction of 2,500 homes in the West Bank will continue along with 455 additional new housing units approved this week. But under a partial freeze, no further construction would be approved.

At the same time, Mr. Netanyahu said building will continue in disputed East Jerusalem, on land the Palestinians claim for the capital of a future state.

"Jerusalem is the united capital of the State of Israel and the Jewish people, and it will remain so forever," he said.

That could complicate⁵ U.S. efforts to revive the peace process. The Palestinians say they will not return to the negotiating table until all settlement activity stops, both in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.

The settlement issue will top the agenda when U.S. Middle East envoy⁶ George Mitchell arrives here this weekend for separate talks with Israeli and Palestinian leaders.

1 constituents   

n.选民( constituent的名词复数 )；成分；构成部分；要素

参考例句：

• She has the full support of her constituents. 她得到本区选民的全力支持。
• Hydrogen and oxygen are the constituents of water. 氢和氧是水的主要成分。 来自《简明英汉词典》

2 hawk   

n.鹰，骗子；鹰派成员

参考例句：

• The hawk swooped down on the rabbit and killed it.鹰猛地朝兔子扑下来,并把它杀死。
• The hawk snatched the chicken and flew away.老鹰叼了小鸡就飞走了。

3 defiant   

adj.无礼的，挑战的

参考例句：

• With a last defiant gesture,they sang a revolutionary song as they were led away to prison.他们被带走投入监狱时，仍以最后的反抗姿态唱起了一支革命歌曲。
• He assumed a defiant attitude toward his employer.他对雇主采取挑衅的态度。

4 gathering   

n.集会，聚会，聚集

参考例句：

• He called on Mr. White to speak at the gathering.他请怀特先生在集会上讲话。
• He is on the wing gathering material for his novels.他正忙于为他的小说收集资料。

5 complicate   

vt.使复杂化，使混乱，使难懂

参考例句：

• There is no need to complicate matters.没有必要使问题复杂化。
• These events will greatly complicate the situation.这些事件将使局势变得极其复杂。

6 envoy   

n.使节，使者，代表，公使

参考例句：

• Their envoy showed no sign of responding to our proposals.他们的代表对我方的提议毫无回应的迹象。
• The government has not yet appointed an envoy to the area.政府尚未向这一地区派过外交官。