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(单词翻译)
By Robert Berger
Jerusalem
30 March 2006
The new Palestinian government led by the Islamic militant1 group Hamas has begun its first day of work amid a looming2 political and financial crisis. Hamas is holding fast to its radical3 ideology4 despite mounting international pressure.
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Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and Prime Minister Ismail Haniya, second from right, look on as Palestinian Minister for Public Utilities, Ziad Zaza, is sworn in
The new Hamas government is already facing major challenges: namely, western isolation5 and a shortage of cash. As soon as the government was sworn in on Wednesday, the U.S. cut off contacts with the Palestinian Authority, and Canada suspended aid. The international community is threatening more sanctions, after Hamas rejected demands to renounce6 violence and recognize Israel.
For its part, Israel has cut off $50 million in monthly tax payments to the Palestinians. Former Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says that with Hamas in power, it cannot be business as usual.
Former Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
"The government that has been created is so extreme that it must be kept separate, it must be isolated7, it must be weakened, and ultimately, it must be replaced," he said.
Former Palestinian Cabinet Minister Ghassan Khattib says sanctions by Israel and the international community are counterproductive.
"That is going to further humiliate8 the Palestinian people and will cause an increase in the process of radicalization as a result of the economic deterioration9 that these measures will bring," he said.
Hamas is feeling the crunch10. It needs to find the money to pay the March salaries of 140,000 government employees that are due next week. Arab states have promised to provide $55 million a month to the Palestinian Authority, but they have rarely met their pledges of aid in the past.
Nevertheless, Hamas says it will not succumb11 to international pressure to change its Islamic ideology. Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal said the new government cannot promise economic prosperity to the Palestinians. But he said it will promise dignity and pride as they fight the Israeli occupation.
1 militant | |
adj.激进的,好斗的;n.激进分子,斗士 | |
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2 looming | |
n.上现蜃景(光通过低层大气发生异常折射形成的一种海市蜃楼)v.隐约出现,阴森地逼近( loom的现在分词 );隐约出现,阴森地逼近 | |
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3 radical | |
n.激进份子,原子团,根号;adj.根本的,激进的,彻底的 | |
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4 ideology | |
n.意识形态,(政治或社会的)思想意识 | |
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5 isolation | |
n.隔离,孤立,分解,分离 | |
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6 renounce | |
v.放弃;拒绝承认,宣布与…断绝关系 | |
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7 isolated | |
adj.与世隔绝的 | |
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8 humiliate | |
v.使羞辱,使丢脸[同]disgrace | |
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9 deterioration | |
n.退化;恶化;变坏 | |
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10 crunch | |
n.关键时刻;艰难局面;v.发出碎裂声 | |
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11 succumb | |
v.屈服,屈从;死 | |
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