VOA标准英语2013--Analysts: Israeli Election Could Impact Obama-Netanyahu Relationship

 

Analysts²: Israeli Election Could Impact Obama-Netanyahu Relationship

Yair Lapid is the new star of Israeli politics. The 49-year-old former television host burst onto the political scene with his centrist party capturing second place in parliamentary elections and positioning himself as a power broker³ in the formation of the next government.

Analysts say the vote was a rebuke⁴ to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. His conservative ticket lost seats in the new parliament despite placing first.

The Israeli vote came as U.S. President Barack Obama was inaugurated for a second term.

Analysts say his leadership style is bolder since reelection.

Robert Satloff is Executive Director of the Washington Institute for Near East Policy. "It is absolutely true that Netanyahu’s success was not as great as Obama’s success, but it is a different political environment," he said. 

President Obama and Prime Minister Netanyahu have had a rocky relationship. 

But that could improve if Mr. Netanyahu forms a government open to talks with the Palestinians.

Jerusalem-based analyst¹ David Ricci said, “It won’t be a moderate government but it will be compelled, I think, by international pressure to re-open negotiations⁵. I think the president of the United States is very interested in that.”

After Obama's inauguration⁶, White House spokesman Jay Carney repeated the president’s policy. “What needs to take place are direct negotiations between the two parties that address the final-status issues and that result in a two-state solution," he said. 

But some Palestinians in the West Bank are skeptical⁷ that a new Israeli government will be a positive development.

Palestinian Foreign Minister Riad Malki said, “While the Palestinian leadership has reaffirmed its immediate⁸ readiness to engage in negotiations on the basis of clear parameters⁹, Israel, however, has instead persisted in its path of occupation, conflict and fear mongering.”

If there is a centrist government, Mr. Netanyahu may be under less pressure for a military strike against Iran’s nuclear facilities. 

The Obama administration is hoping a combination of sanctions and diplomacy¹⁰ will avert¹¹ an armed confrontation¹².

“The Israelis are willing to let the United States play this out, play Obama’s strategy out, to the very end and see whether the Obama strategy succeeds in convincing Iran to negotiate an end to its military nuclear program," said Robert Satloff

It's likely to take weeks to form a new coalition¹³ government, and Yair Lapid is expected to be right in the middle of the negotiations. 

1 analyst   

n.分析家，化验员；心理分析学家

参考例句：

• What can you contribute to the position of a market analyst?你有什么技能可有助于市场分析员的职务？
• The analyst is required to interpolate values between standards.分析人员需要在这些标准中插入一些值。

2 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。

3 broker   

n.中间人，经纪人；v.作为中间人来安排

参考例句：

• He baited the broker by promises of higher commissions.他答应给更高的佣金来引诱那位经纪人。
• I'm a real estate broker.我是不动产经纪人。

4 rebuke   

v.指责，非难，斥责 [反]praise

参考例句：

• He had to put up with a smart rebuke from the teacher.他不得不忍受老师的严厉指责。
• Even one minute's lateness would earn a stern rebuke.哪怕迟到一分钟也将受到严厉的斥责。

5 negotiations   

协商( negotiation的名词复数 )； 谈判； 完成（难事）； 通过

参考例句：

• negotiations for a durable peace 为持久和平而进行的谈判
• Negotiations have failed to establish any middle ground. 谈判未能达成任何妥协。

6 inauguration   

n.开幕、就职典礼

参考例句：

• The inauguration of a President of the United States takes place on January 20.美国总统的就职典礼于一月二十日举行。
• Three celebrated tenors sang at the president's inauguration.3位著名的男高音歌手在总统就职仪式上演唱。

7 skeptical   

adj.怀疑的，多疑的

参考例句：

• Others here are more skeptical about the chances for justice being done.这里的其他人更为怀疑正义能否得到伸张。
• Her look was skeptical and resigned.她的表情是将信将疑而又无可奈何。

8 immediate   

adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的

参考例句：

• His immediate neighbours felt it their duty to call.他的近邻认为他们有责任去拜访。
• We declared ourselves for the immediate convocation of the meeting.我们主张立即召开这个会议。

9 parameters   

因素，特征； 界限； （限定性的）因素( parameter的名词复数 )； 参量； 参项； 决定因素

参考例句：

• We have to work within the parameters of time. 我们的工作受时间所限。
• See parameters.cpp for a compilable example. This is part of the Spirit distribution. 可编译例子见parameters.cpp.这是Spirit分发包的组成部分。

10 diplomacy   

n.外交；外交手腕，交际手腕

参考例句：

• The talks have now gone into a stage of quiet diplomacy.会谈现在已经进入了“温和外交”阶段。
• This was done through the skill in diplomacy. 这是通过外交手腕才做到的。

11 avert   

v.防止，避免；转移(目光、注意力等)

参考例句：

• He managed to avert suspicion.他设法避嫌。
• I would do what I could to avert it.我会尽力去避免发生这种情况。

12 confrontation   

n.对抗，对峙，冲突

参考例句：

• We can't risk another confrontation with the union.我们不能冒再次同工会对抗的危险。
• After years of confrontation,they finally have achieved a modus vivendi.在对抗很长时间后，他们最后达成安宁生存的非正式协议。

13 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。