VOA常速英语2015--白宫同以色列关系摩擦增加

白宫同以色列关系摩擦增加

“On both sides, there has now been injected a degree of partisanship¹, which is not only unfortunate, I think it's destructive of the fabric² of the relationship.”

“给双方徒增一场党派之争，不仅不幸，而且也不利于双方关系。”

At issue for the administration is the fact the invitation to Netanyahu came from President Barack Obama’s adversaries³ in the Republican-led Congress, and his visit will not include a meeting with Obama.

政府面临的问题是共和党控制的国会，奥巴马总统的一些反对者们对内塔尼亚胡总理发出邀请，而总理在访美期间不会会晤奥巴马总统。

White House officials on Thursday backed Rice’s words, saying relations with Israel should be above domestic politics.

白宫官员星期四支持苏珊·赖斯，并且表示美国与以色列的关系应当超乎国内政治。

“There is a long tradition in the United States of ensuring that the relationship between the United States and Israel isn’t just reduced to a relationship between political parties.”

“美国多年来的传统一直是确保美以关系不会降至政党间的关系。”

Rice’s remarks were the clearest yet on what some describe as the worst state of relations between a U.S. administration and Israel.Obama’s willingness to negotiate with Iran is one reason for the discord⁵, but it has been apparent for years the two men do not get along personally.

赖斯的话明显表明奥巴马当局同以色列的最糟糕关系。奥巴马总统同伊朗进行谈判协商的意愿是双方关系不合的其中一个原因。但几年来奥巴马与内塔尼亚胡两人关系并不顺利。

The U.S.-Israeli relationship as a whole is seen as too big to fail.Obama has signed off on continued military support for the Jewish state, including funding of the Iron Dome⁴ missile defense⁶ system to intercept⁷ rockets from Gaza.

美以关系一直被认为坚不可摧。而奥巴马总统最近也签署批准继续向以色列提供军事援助，其中包括资助铁穹导弹防御体系拦截加沙火箭。

The troubles are due to the current set of circumstances, said former State Department official Aaron David Miller⁸.

美国国务院前官员大卫·米勒表示现在美以关系的问题是由一系列原因所造成。

“You have the ongoing⁹ soap opera that basically constitutes the personal relationship between Netanyahu and Barack Obama.You’ve got the end game on U.S.-Iranian negotiations¹⁰ coming and the heightened sensitivities-both on the Israeli and the American side-you’ve got congress now for the first time in the Obama administration, in eight years, in control of Congress, and you’ve got Israeli elections.”

“你现在所见是一出内塔尼亚胡和奥巴马联袂出演持续不断的戏剧。美伊谈判面临决定性时刻，美以方面对此都十分敏感。共和党人现在又控制了国会，这是奥巴马政府上任以来的首次。而以色列即将进行选举。”

U.S. support for Israel has in the past usually been bipartisan, but a call Thursday by Democratic lawmakers for Democrats¹¹ to walk out during Netanyahu’s speech on March 3 was another sign the U.S. approach to Israel could be changing.

美国对以色列的支持在过去通常都是两党制。但一些民主党议员星期四呼吁民主党人抵制内塔尼亚胡3月3日的演说，这再次表明美国对以色列的态度可能正在起变化。

 

Obama in the past has sometimes spoken at annual meetings of AIPAC, the main pro-Israel lobbying group. This year, he’s sending U.N. Ambassador Samantha Powers and Rice.

过去奥巴马总统会在亲以色列的大游说团体AIPAC年度会议上发表演说。但今年他将派遣美国常驻联合国代表萨曼莎·鲍尔和苏珊·赖斯代为前往。

1 Partisanship   

n. 党派性, 党派偏见

参考例句：

• Her violent partisanship was fighting Soames's battle. 她的激烈偏袒等于替索米斯卖气力。
• There was a link of understanding between them, more important than affection or partisanship. ' 比起人间的感情，比起相同的政见，这一点都来得格外重要。 来自英汉文学

2 fabric   

n.织物，织品，布；构造，结构，组织

参考例句：

• The fabric will spot easily.这种织品很容易玷污。
• I don't like the pattern on the fabric.我不喜欢那块布料上的图案。

3 adversaries   

n.对手，敌手( adversary的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• That would cause potential adversaries to recoil from a challenge. 这会迫使潜在的敌人在挑战面前退缩。 来自辞典例句
• Every adversaries are more comfortable with a predictable, coherent America. 就连敌人也会因有可以预料的，始终一致的美国而感到舒服得多。 来自辞典例句

4 dome   

n.圆屋顶，拱顶

参考例句：

• The dome was supported by white marble columns.圆顶由白色大理石柱支撑着。
• They formed the dome with the tree's branches.他们用树枝搭成圆屋顶。

5 discord   

n.不和，意见不合，争论，（音乐）不和谐

参考例句：

• These two answers are in discord.这两个答案不一样。
• The discord of his music was hard on the ear.他演奏的不和谐音很刺耳。

6 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。

7 intercept   

vt.拦截，截住，截击

参考例句：

• His letter was intercepted by the Secret Service.他的信被特工处截获了。
• Gunmen intercepted him on his way to the airport.持枪歹徒在他去机场的路上截击了他。

8 miller   

n.磨坊主

参考例句：

• Every miller draws water to his own mill.磨坊主都往自己磨里注水。
• The skilful miller killed millions of lions with his ski.技术娴熟的磨坊主用雪橇杀死了上百万头狮子。

9 ongoing   

adj.进行中的，前进的

参考例句：

• The problem is ongoing.这个问题尚未解决。
• The issues raised in the report relate directly to Age Concern's ongoing work in this area.报告中提出的问题与“关心老人”组织在这方面正在做的工作有直接的关系。

10 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。

11 democrats   

n.民主主义者，民主人士( democrat的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The Democrats held a pep rally on Capitol Hill yesterday. 民主党昨天在国会山召开了竞选誓师大会。
• The democrats organize a filibuster in the senate. 民主党党员组织了阻挠议事。 来自《简明英汉词典》