VOA标准英语2009年-Relations Between Turkey, Israel Continue
时间：2019-01-14 作者：英语课 分类：VOA标准英语2009年(十月)
By Dorian Jones
Istanbul
27 October 2009
For more than a decade Turkey and Israel have enjoyed close military cooperation including joint 1 naval 2 exercises that have taken place since they signed a military cooperation agreement in 1996. But relations between the two countries have cooled since Ankara criticized Israel's offensive in the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip in December and January. Most recently, Turkey postponed 3 a joint air force drill after opposing Israel's participation 4.
A cloud of smoke billows from the Gaza Strip following an Israeli strikes as seen from the Israel-Gaza border, 15 Jan 2009
The first episode of a Turkish TV series that was reported on Israeli news channels shows an Israeli soldier taking aim at a smiling Palestinian girl, killing 5 her. The airing of the controversial program caused outrage 6 in Tel Aviv and is the latest strain on relations between the two countries.
The growing strains stem largely from Ankara's increasing criticism of Israel's occupation of Palestinian territory, and more recently, Ankara' canceled joint military exercises with Israel scheduled for later this month.
Suat Kiniklioglu, spokesman for the Turkish parliamentary committee on foreign affairs, explains.
"Turkish public opinion could not agree with the fact that an Israeli aircraft would be training on Turkish territory, while at the same time there are gross human rights violation 7 being committed in Gaza," he said. "I think one needs to recognize - given the current state of relations - it is difficult to describe it as a strategic one anymore. It is a relationship that maybe was strategic in the past, but its probably downgraded to a more ordinary bilateral 8 relationship."
The tensions have imperiled a strategic alliance forged in 1996 that cemented military and intelligence ties.
In January, Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan publicly criticized Israel over the Gaza campaign and walked out of a session of the World Economic Forum 9 in Switzerland attended by Israeli President Shimon Peres.
Mr. Erdogan accused Israel of "barbarian 10 acts" during the 22-day Gaza incursion, which Israel launched in response to a wave of deadly rocket attacks from Palestinian territory. Some 1,400 Palestinians, most of them civilians 12, were killed by Israeli forces during the Gaza operation.
Experts say Turkey's tough stance is causing concern both in the United States and Europe.
US Congressman 13 Robert Wexler, a self-described friend of Turkey, attacked the Turkish prime minister of double standards.
"Where's the outrage when the prime minister talks about no tolerance 14 for terror?" he asked. "The terror in this region is created by Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in Gaza. Where was the outrage for years as there was strikes against civilian 11 targets in Israel?"
But on the streets of Istanbul there is widespread support for the government's stance towards Israel. This man's view is typical.
He says, too much blood is being shed, and many innocent people are being killed, most of whom are Palestinians. The Israelis are responsible for this. It's wrong that Turkey has close relations with the Israeli government and army, which is responsible for these deaths. This really disturbs me, he says.
The 1996 alliance between Israel and Turkey, made Ankara Israel's closest friend in the Muslim world.
Soli Ozel of Istanbul's Bilgi University said the alliance, one of the most significant in the Middle East, stemmed from a recognition of mutual 15 security interests. Both countries were isolated 16 regionally and at that time shared common foes 17, Syria in particular.
"Turkey was fighting a war against an insurrectionary movement whose leader was sitting in Syria," he explained. "And the relation with Israel within two years allowed Turkey to tell the Syrians you either kick him out or we will come in there to pick him up and it worked."
But change began when the Islamist-rooted AKP Party was elected to power in 2002.
Earlier this month Syria and Turkey signed what is being described as an historic agreement, which allows visa-free travel between the two countries. Preparations are also under way for a joint military exercise between the two. No plans are scheduled for any future such cooperation with Israel.
Turkish parliamentary committee on foreign affairs spokesman Kiniklioglu says he expects little improvement in relations with Israel.
"If the current posture 18 of the Israeli government on Gaza continues it would not be difficult to predict that Turkish and Israeli relations will continue to be difficult and fragile," he noted 19. "So I think we need to brace 20 ourselves for a new period."
Analysts 21 say the once political and militarily strategic alliance between Turkey and Israel was the most powerful alliance in the region. But for now at least those days seem over. With Ankara working hard to improve relations with Syria, Iraq and even the prime minister's visit to Tehran, few people see little chance of a renewal of that alliance anytime soon
- I had a bad fall,which put my shoulder out of joint.我重重地摔了一跤，肩膀脫臼了。
- We wrote a letter in joint names.我们联名写了封信。
- He took part in a great naval battle.他参加了一次大海战。
- The harbour is an important naval base.该港是一个重要的海军基地。
- The trial was postponed indefinitely. 审讯无限期延迟。
- The game has already been postponed three times. 这场比赛已经三度延期了。
- Some of the magic tricks called for audience participation.有些魔术要求有观众的参与。
- The scheme aims to encourage increased participation in sporting activities.这个方案旨在鼓励大众更多地参与体育活动。
- Investors are set to make a killing from the sell-off.投资者准备清仓以便大赚一笔。
- Last week my brother made a killing on Wall Street.上个周我兄弟在华尔街赚了一大笔。
- When he heard the news he reacted with a sense of outrage.他得悉此事时义愤填膺。
- We should never forget the outrage committed by the Japanese invaders.我们永远都不应该忘记日本侵略者犯下的暴行。
- He roared that was a violation of the rules.他大声说，那是违反规则的。
- He was fined 200 dollars for violation of traffic regulation.他因违反交通规则被罚款200美元。
- They have been negotiating a bilateral trade deal.他们一直在商谈一项双边贸易协定。
- There was a wide gap between the views of the two statesmen on the bilateral cooperation.对双方合作的问题，两位政治家各自所持的看法差距甚大。
- They're holding a forum on new ways of teaching history.他们正在举行历史教学讨论会。
- The organisation would provide a forum where problems could be discussed.这个组织将提供一个可以讨论问题的平台。
- There is a barbarian tribe living in this forest.有一个原始部落居住在这个林区。
- The walled city was attacked by barbarian hordes.那座有城墙的城市遭到野蛮部落的袭击。
- There is no reliable information about civilian casualties.关于平民的伤亡还没有确凿的信息。
- He resigned his commission to take up a civilian job.他辞去军职而从事平民工作。
- the bloody massacre of innocent civilians 对无辜平民的血腥屠杀
- At least 300 civilians are unaccounted for after the bombing raids. 遭轰炸袭击之后，至少有300名平民下落不明。
- He related several anecdotes about his first years as a congressman.他讲述自己初任议员那几年的几则轶事。
- The congressman is meditating a reply to his critics.这位国会议员正在考虑给他的批评者一个答复。
- Tolerance is one of his strengths.宽容是他的一个优点。
- Human beings have limited tolerance of noise.人类对噪音的忍耐力有限。
- We must pull together for mutual interest.我们必须为相互的利益而通力合作。
- Mutual interests tied us together.相互的利害关系把我们联系在一起。
- His bad behaviour was just an isolated incident. 他的不良行为只是个别事件。
- Patients with the disease should be isolated. 这种病的患者应予以隔离。
- They steadily pushed their foes before them. 他们不停地追击敌人。
- She had fought many battles, vanquished many foes. 她身经百战，挫败过很多对手。
- The government adopted an uncompromising posture on the issue of independence.政府在独立这一问题上采取了毫不妥协的态度。
- He tore off his coat and assumed a fighting posture.他脱掉上衣，摆出一副打架的架势。
- 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。
- My daughter has to wear a brace on her teeth. 我的女儿得戴牙套以矫正牙齿。
- You had better brace yourself for some bad news. 有些坏消息,你最好做好准备。