VOA标准英语2009年-Netanyahu Rules Out Dismantling West Bank

（单词翻译）

The thorny¹ issue of Jewish settlements topped the agenda at Israel's weekly Cabinet meeting. The right-wing government is hardening its position.
　
Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attends the weekly cabinet meeting in Jerusalem, Sunday, 9 Aug. 2009

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ruled out dismantling² West Bank settlements, seen as an essential part of any final peace deal with the Palestinians.

Mr. Netanyahu told his Cabinet that the Israeli pullout from the Gaza Strip in 2005 did not bring peace or security. Israel dismantled⁴ 21 settlements back then and removed 8,000 settlers from their homes. But a year later the Islamic militant⁵ group Hamas seized control of Gaza and stepped up rocket attacks across the border.

Mr. Netanyahu said Gaza is a Hamas terror base controlled by Iran.

"We will not repeat this mistake," he said. "We will not create new evacuees⁶."

Palestinian spokeswoman Diana Buttu says Netanyahu's position is a blow to the U.S.-sponsored peace process.

"What Washington has been looking for and what the Palestinians have been looking for is that Israel is going to actually freeze and in fact dismantle³ its settlements," Buttu said. "And what Netanyahu said was that he is not going to do any of that."

Mr. Netanyahu's comments came as the Palestinian Fatah movement held its first congress in 20 years. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, who rules in the West Bank, was re-elected as party leader on Saturday. He said Fatah supports the peace process, but he warned that if diplomacy⁷ fails, the Palestinians could return to armed resistance.