您现在的位置: Language Tips> Audio & Video> Normal Speed News  
   
 





 
Palestinians accuse US of damaging peace process
[ 2009-11-02 11:01 ]

 

Palestinian leaders are voicing frustration after U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton praised Israel for making what she said are unprecedented concessions in efforts to restart peace negotiations. Israeli leaders are keeping up their calls for the Palestinians to drop all preconditions.

Palestinian leaders on Sunday stuck to their demands that Israel stop all settlement activity before any resumption of peace talks that have been stalled since December.

Palestinians accuse US of damaging peace process

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton called late Saturday for all sides to return to talks and praised what she said are Israel's unprecedented concessions, which she said include its offer to restrain settlement growth.

She urged both sides to return to talks as soon as possible and backed Israel's assertion that all demands over settlements should be dealt with during negotiations, not sooner.

"There has never been a precondition," said Clinton. "It has always been an issue within the negotiations."

Saturday, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas told Secretary Clinton the Palestinians will not back off their demand for Israel to freeze settlements before negotiations resume.

Speaking on Israeli radio Sunday, Chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat reaffirmed there would be no return to talks unless Israel freezes settlements first.

Palestinians accuse US of damaging peace process

The Palestinian official said the Palestinians want peace, but not peace at any price and not the peace that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is offering.

Mr. Netanyahu addressed his Cabinet on Sunday, saying Israel will keep up its efforts to resume talks.

Mr. Netanyahu said U.S. Envoy George Mitchell was staying in the country another day, and he said Israel is making a concerted effort in order to bring about the renewal of negotiations. The Israeli leader says his government has expressed the intention to do unprecedented things to jump-start the process and he says the Americans are well aware of this.

The Israeli Prime Minister said the Palestinians have imposed preconditions that they had not imposed before during 16 years of negotiations. He says he hopes the Palestinian leaders will change their minds and start talks without delay.

An aide to President Abbas accused the Obama administration of backtracking on its earlier promises to push for a freeze on settlement construction. He said Secretary Clinton's acceptance of Israel's offer to restrain - rather than freeze - settlement growth has killed any hope of restarting peace talks anytime soon.

The settlements, whose growth has been promoted by past Israeli governments, are home to hundreds of thousands of Israelis. They were built on lands in the West Bank that Israel captured and occupied after its victory in the 1967 Arab-Israeli war.

Palestinians say the existence of the settlements hampers the establishment of a viable Palestinian state.

backtrack: to reverse one's position or policy 退却

Related stories: 

Israeli and Palestinian leaders to meet Obama at UN

US envoy launches Mideast peace mission

Clinton tells Israel two-state solution inevitable

US urges Mideast peace talks despite Israeli pessimism

(Source: VOA 英语点津编辑)

英语点津版权说明:凡注明来源为“英语点津:XXX(署名)”的原创作品,除与中国日报网签署英语点津内容授权协议的网站外,其他任何网站或单位未经允许不得非法盗链、转载和使用,违者必究。如需使用,请与010-84883631联系;凡本网注明“来源:XXX(非英语点津)”的作品,均转载自其它媒体,目的在于传播更多信息,其他媒体如需转载,请与稿件来源方联系,如产生任何问题与本网无关;本网所发布的歌曲、电影片段,版权归原作者所有,仅供学习与研究,如果侵权,请提供版权证明,以便尽快删除。
相关文章 Related Story
 
 
 
本频道最新推荐
 
寒潮 cold snap
脸部较宽的人更具侵略性?
女友专用调 girlfriend voice
Give someone the third degree 盘问某人
翻译辨误:老狗学不会新把戏?
翻吧推荐
 
论坛热贴
 
万圣节问题火热征集!
翻译达人评选,快来投票!
经典英语口语,不得不看(推荐)
I chocolate you!怎么翻译?
请教obama演讲里的一句话