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2007年VOA标准英语-Israel Opens Criminal Probe of Prime Minister

时间：2007-09-30 03:13:05

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（单词翻译）

By Robert Berger
Jerusalem
25 September 2007

A new corruption1 scandal is dogging Israel's embattled Prime Minister Ehud Olmert. As Robert Berger reports from VOA's Jerusalem bureau, it could distract him from efforts to revive the peace process with the Palestinians.

Israeli police are opening a criminal investigation2 into Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's purchase of a home in Jerusalem. The attorney general suspects bribery3 and fraud because Mr. Olmert bought the house at far below the market value.

According to an investigation by the state comptroller, Mr. Olmert received a discount of more than $300,000 in exchange for helping4 a developer obtain construction permits from Jerusalem authorities. This allegedly occurred when he was a Cabinet minister in 2004.

In a statement, Mr. Olmert denied any wrongdoing and insisted that the price he paid was fair.

Right-wing opposition5 leaders are calling for the prime minister to resign. But Michael Partem of the Movement for Quality Government says he is innocent until proven guilty.

"The investigation is not an indictment7. It is only an investigation," he noted8. "So until there is a decision as to whether or not to indict6 the Prime Minister, we would not be calling on him to step down."

The scandal is another blow to Mr. Olmert whose popularity has plunged9 since an official inquiry10 described his handling of last year's Lebanon War as a failure.

The prime minister is also trying to advance peace talks with the Palestinians. Mr. Olmert and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas are working on a document on Palestinian statehood to be presented at an international peace conference planned for November in the United States.

Partem says the investigation is bound to be a distraction11 from the prime minister's official duties.

"It is certainly not healthy, and this is obviously not within his purview12 of the job," he said. "And it is wasting his time and it is wasting our resources."

It is the latest in a series of scandals involving government officials. The justice minister stepped down in a sex scandal, the finance minister resigned amid charges of embezzlement13 and Mr. Olmert is facing separate allegations of influence peddling14. The scandals have eroded15 public confidence in the government.


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1 corruption TzCxn     
n.腐败，堕落，贪污
参考例句：
  • The people asked the government to hit out against corruption and theft.人民要求政府严惩贪污盗窃。
  • The old man reviled against corruption.那老人痛斥了贪污舞弊。
2 investigation MRKzq     
n.调查，调查研究
参考例句：
  • In an investigation,a new fact became known, which told against him.在调查中新发现了一件对他不利的事实。
  • He drew the conclusion by building on his own investigation.他根据自己的调查研究作出结论。
3 bribery Lxdz7Z     
n.贿络行为，行贿，受贿
参考例句：
  • FBI found out that the senator committed bribery.美国联邦调查局查明这个参议员有受贿行为。
  • He was charged with bribery.他被指控受贿。
4 helping 2rGzDc     
n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的
参考例句：
  • The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
  • By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。
5 opposition eIUxU     
n.反对，敌对
参考例句：
  • The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
  • The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。
6 indict 0bEzv     
v.起诉，控告，指控
参考例句：
  • You can't indict whole people for the crudeness of a few.您不能因少数人的粗暴行为就控诉整个民族。
  • I can indict you for abducting high school student.我可以告你诱拐中学生。
7 indictment ybdzt     
n.起诉；诉状
参考例句：
  • He handed up the indictment to the supreme court.他把起诉书送交最高法院。
  • They issued an indictment against them.他们起诉了他们。
8 noted 5n4zXc     
adj.著名的，知名的
参考例句：
  • The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
  • Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。
9 plunged 06a599a54b33c9d941718dccc7739582     
v.颠簸( plunge的过去式和过去分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降
参考例句：
  • The train derailed and plunged into the river. 火车脱轨栽进了河里。
  • She lost her balance and plunged 100 feet to her death. 她没有站稳，从100英尺的高处跌下摔死了。
10 inquiry nbgzF     
n.打听，询问，调查，查问
参考例句：
  • Many parents have been pressing for an inquiry into the problem.许多家长迫切要求调查这个问题。
  • The field of inquiry has narrowed down to five persons.调查的范围已经缩小到只剩5个人了。
11 distraction muOz3l     
n.精神涣散，精神不集中，消遣，娱乐
参考例句：
  • Total concentration is required with no distractions.要全神贯注，不能有丝毫分神。
  • Their national distraction is going to the disco.他们的全民消遣就是去蹦迪。
12 purview HC7yr     
n.范围；眼界
参考例句：
  • These are questions that lie outside the purview of our inquiry.这些都不是属于我们调查范围的问题。
  • That,however,was beyond the purview of the court;it was a diplomatic matter.但是，那已不在法庭权限之内；那是个外交问题。
13 embezzlement RqoxY     
n.盗用，贪污
参考例句：
  • He was accused of graft and embezzlement and was chained and thrown into prison.他因被指控贪污盗窃而锒铛入狱。
  • The judge sent him to prison for embezzlement of funds.法官因他盗用公款将其送入监牢。
14 peddling c15a58556d0c84a06eb622ab9226ef81     
忙于琐事的，无关紧要的
参考例句：
  • He worked as a door-to-door salesman peddling cloths and brushes. 他的工作是上门推销抹布和刷子。
  • "If he doesn't like peddling, why doesn't he practice law? "要是他不高兴卖柴火，干吗不当律师呢？
15 eroded f1d64e7cb6e68a5e1444e173c24e672e     
adj. 被侵蚀的，有蚀痕的 动词erode的过去式和过去分词形式
参考例句：
  • The cliff face has been steadily eroded by the sea. 峭壁表面逐渐被海水侵蚀。
  • The stream eroded a channel in the solid rock. 小溪在硬石中侵蚀成一条水道。

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