奥巴马谈巴以冲突：没有谁的手是干净的

近日，美国前总统奥巴马在一节目中谈及巴以冲突，他就巴以冲突的复杂性发出警告，称“没有谁的手是干净的，我们所有人在某种程度上都是同谋”。

🤔️小作业：

1. Based on the article, which of the following best summarizes Barack Obama's perspective on the Israel-Hamas conflict?

A) He solely supports Israel's stance.

B) He views Hamas' actions as justifiable.

C) He calls for recognition of faults and responsibilities on both sides.

D) He advocates for unconditional support for Palestine.

A) Strongly supportive.

B) Neutral.

C) Strongly opposed.

D) No clear stance.

无注释原文：

‘Nobody’s hands are clean’: Obama urges reflection amid Israel-Hamas conflict

From: POLITICO

Former President Barack Obama cautioned against ignoring the complexities of the Israel-Hamas war, warning that “all of us are complicit.”

“If you want to solve the problem, then you have to take in the whole truth. And you then have to admit nobody’s hands are clean, that all of us are complicit to some degree,” he said in an excerpted interview with Pod Save America released Saturday.

Reflecting on his presidency, Obama posed the question, “Well, was there something else I could have done?”

The former president argued that it was important to acknowledge multiple seemingly contradictory truths: Hamas’ actions were “horrific,” but “the occupation and what’s happening to Palestinians” were also “unbearable.”

Obama previously spoke out on the conflict, saying in a statement that any actions by Israel that ignore the human cost of the war against Hamas “could ultimately backfire.”

In an address to the Democracy Forum in Chicago on Friday, the 44th president said that “it is impossible to be dispassionate in the face of this carnage. It is hard to feel hopeful. The images of families mourning, of bodies being pulled from rubble, force a moral reckoning on all of us.”

“All this is taking place against the backdrop of decades of failure to achieve a durable peace for both Israelis and Palestinians, one that is based on genuine security for Israel, a recognition of its right to exist, and a peace that is based on an end of the occupation and the creation of a viable state and self-determination for the Palestinian people,” he added.

As president, Obama had a famously frosty relationship with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, including over the nature of a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

President Joe Biden has strongly supported Israel in its war against Hamas, providing significant military assistance. However, the administration recently called for humanitarian pauses and warned against inflicting outsized harm on Palestinian civilians.

Former President Donald Trump, whose administration closely aligned with Israel, initially criticized Netanyahu in the wake of Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack, saying he was “not prepared” and praising Hezbollah, a regional militant group, as “very smart.” Trump walked back the comments shortly after.

Former President George W. Bush described himself in a recent video as a “hardliner” and said: “My view is: One side is guilty. And it’s not Israel.” Bush warned that the fighting would be “ugly” but defended Israel’s right to retaliate against Hamas.

South Carolina senator and Republican presidential contender Tim Scott pushed back on Obama’s comments in a statement to POLITICO Saturday.

“From Obama to Biden, Democrats have a problem: supporting Israel always has an asterisk,” Scott said.

“Obama is dead wrong and he has a legacy of aiding those who support terrorism,” he continued. “The truth is simple: Hamas is evil.”

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注：完整题目见本文开头；中文文本为机器翻译并非一一对应，仅供参考

含注释全文：

‘Nobody’s hands are clean’: Obama urges reflection amid Israel-Hamas conflict

From: POLITICO

Former President Barack Obama cautioned against ignoring the complexities of the Israel-Hamas war, warning that “all of us are complicit.”

美国前总统巴拉克·奥巴马（Barack Obama）就以色列与哈马斯战争的复杂性发出警告，称“我们所有人是同谋”。

作名词，表示“谨慎，小心，慎重”，英文解释为“great care and attention”举个🌰：We need to proceed with/exercise caution (= be careful in taking action, making decisions, etc.) 我们必须谨慎行事。

作动词，表示“告诫，提醒”，英文解释为“to warn someone”举个🌰：The newspaper cautioned its readers against buying shares without getting good advice first. 报纸告诫读者事先没有获得好的建议，不要购买股票。

complicit /ˌkɒmˈplɪsɪt/ 表示“同谋的；串通的”，英文解释为“If someone is complicit in a crime or unfair activity, they are involved in it.”

📍2017年，词典网站Dictionary.com公布了其评选出的2017年度词汇就是这个词，complicit 同谋。

“If you want to solve the problem, then you have to take in the whole truth. And you then have to admit nobody’s hands are clean, that all of us are complicit to some degree,” he said in an excerpted interview with Pod Save America released Saturday.

“如果你想解决问题，就必须了解全部真相。然后你必须承认，没有谁的手是干净的，我们所有人在某种程度上都是同谋，”他在周六发布的播客节目“Pod Save America”采访片断中说道。

excerpt /ˈeksɜːpt/ 作动词，表示“引用，摘录，节选”，举个🌰：The document was excerpted from an unidentified FBI file. 此文件摘自来源不明的联邦调查局档案。

作名词，表示“（演讲、书、电影等的）摘录，节录，片断”，英文解释为“a short part taken from a speech, book, film, etc.”举个🌰：An excerpt from her new thriller will appear in this weekend's magazine. 本周末出版的杂志将选登她的最新惊险小说片断。

Reflecting on his presidency, Obama posed the question, “Well, was there something else I could have done?”

回顾自己的总统任期时，奥巴马提出了这样一个问题：“那么，我还能做些什么吗？”

The former president argued that it was important to acknowledge multiple seemingly contradictory truths: Hamas’ actions were “horrific,” but “the occupation and what’s happening to Palestinians” were also “unbearable.”

这位前总统认为，重要的是要认识到几个看似矛盾的真相：哈马斯的行为是“可怕的”，但“占领以及巴勒斯坦人所经历的”同样是“无法忍受的”。

contradictory /ˌkɒntrəˈdɪktərɪ/ 表示“对立的；相互矛盾的；不一致的”，英文解释为“If two or more facts, pieces of advice, etc. are contradictory, they are very different from each other.”举个🌰：I keep getting contradictory advice - some people tell me to keep it warm and some tell me to put ice on it. 我不断得到相互矛盾的建议——有人要我保暖，有人叫我敷冰。

Obama previously spoke out on the conflict, saying in a statement that any actions by Israel that ignore the human cost of the war against Hamas “could ultimately backfire.”

奥巴马此前曾就巴以冲突发表过讲话，他在一份声明中表示，以色列采取的任何无视对哈马斯战争造成的人类代价的行动“最终都可能适得其反。”

1）表示“（引擎）发生回火”，英文解释为“(of an engine) to make a loud noise as a result of fuel burning too early”举个🌰：I was woken by the sound of a truck backfiring. 卡车引擎的回火声把我惊醒了。

2）表示“事与愿违，（计划或行动）发生意外，产生事与愿违的结果”，英文解释为“if a plan or action backfires, it has the opposite effect to the one you intended”举个🌰：The company's new policy backfired when a number of employees threatened to quit. 公司的新政策事与愿违，有好几名员工威胁说要辞职。

🎬电影《被拒人生》（Freeheld）中的台词提到：Listen to me, listen to me, this is a circus, it's gonna backfire. 听我说，这有些儿戏了，会适得其反的。

In an address to the Democracy Forum in Chicago on Friday, the 44th president said that “it is impossible to be dispassionate in the face of this carnage. It is hard to feel hopeful. The images of families mourning, of bodies being pulled from rubble, force a moral reckoning on all of us.”

周五，这位美国第44任总统在芝加哥民主论坛上发表讲话时表示，“面对这场大屠杀，不可能保持冷静。很难抱有希望。看到家人悲痛的画面、遗体从废墟中被拖出的画面，我们所有人不得不进行道德反思。”

dispassionate /dɪˈspæʃ.ən.ət/ 表示“冷静的，镇静的，沉着的”，英文解释为“able to think clearly or make good decisions because of not being influenced by emotions”举个🌰：In all the media hysteria, there was one journalist whose comments were clear-sighted and dispassionate. 当各种媒体都变得十分狂热时，有一位记者的评论却非常清醒和冷静。

carnage /ˈkɑː.nɪdʒ/表示“（尤指战争中的）大屠杀，残杀”，英文解释为“when a lot of people are killed and injured, especially in a war”，如：a scene of terrible carnage 可怕的大屠杀场面。

mourn /mɔːn/ 表示“（因失去…而）哀悼，忧伤”，英文解释为“to feel and show sadness because sb has died; to feel sad because sth no longer exists or is no longer the same”举个🌰：They mourn the passing of a simpler way of life. 他们对逝去的较为淳朴的生活感到惋惜。

近义词：

📍grieve for表示“（尤指因某人的去世而）悲伤，悲痛，伤心”，英文解释为“to feel very sad, especially because sb has died”举个🌰：They are still grieving for their dead child. 他们还在为死去的孩子伤心。

1）表示“估计；估算；计算”，英文解释为“the act of calculating sth, especially in a way that is not very exact”举个🌰：By my reckoning you still owe me ￥100. 我算计着，你还欠我100元。

2）表示“最后审判日；算总账”，英文解释为“a time when sb's actions will be judged to be right or wrong and they may be punished”举个🌰：In the final reckoning truth is rewarded. 在最后算总账的时候，诚实的人会有好报。

📍文中，“reckoning”意味着一种道德上的评估或审视。它指的是在面对悲剧和破坏时，人们需要进行的一种内心的反思和道德上的判断。

“All this is taking place against the backdrop of decades of failure to achieve a durable peace for both Israelis and Palestinians, one that is based on genuine security for Israel, a recognition of its right to exist, and a peace that is based on an end of the occupation and the creation of a viable state and self-determination for the Palestinian people,” he added.

他补充说：“这一切都发生在以色列和巴勒斯坦几十年来未能实现持久和平的背景下，这种和平应基于对以色列真正的安全保障，承认其作为国家的存在权利，以及基于结束占领和为巴勒斯坦人民创造一个可行的国家及其自决权的和平。”

1）表示“（舞台的）背景幕布”，英文解释为“a painted piece of cloth that is hung behind the stage in a theatre as part of the scenery”。

2）表示“事件的背景”，英文解释为“The backdrop to an event is the general situation in which it happens.”举个🌰：The election will take place against a backdrop of increasing instability. 选举的背景是逐渐不稳的局势。

3）表示“背景”，英文解释为“the view behind something”举个🌰：The mountains form a dramatic backdrop to the little village. 群山如画，映衬着小山村。

durable /ˈdʒʊə.rə.bəl/ 表示“持久的，耐久的”，英文解释为“able to last a long time without becoming damaged”举个🌰：The machines have to be made of durable materials. 这种机器必须使用耐用的材料来制造。

viable /ˈvaɪ.ə.bəl/ 1）表示“能生长发育的；可以存活的”，英文解释为“able to continue to exist as or develop into a living being”

2）表示“可以实施的；可望成功的”，英文解释为“able to work as intended or able to succeed”举个🌰：In order to make the company viable, it will unfortunately be necessary to reduce staffing levels. 很遗憾，为使公司继续运转下去，将不得不裁员。

As president, Obama had a famously frosty relationship with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, including over the nature of a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

任职总统期间，奥巴马与以色列总理本雅明·内塔尼亚胡（Benjamin Netanyahu）的关系出了名的冷淡，尤其是在解决巴以冲突的两国方案问题上。

frosty /ˈfrɒs.ti/ 1）表示“严寒的；霜冻的”，英文解释为“very cold, with a thin layer of white ice covering everything”举个🌰：The frosty air stung my cheeks. 冰冷的空气刺痛了我的双颊。

2）frosty /ˈfrɒs.ti/ 表示“（某人或其行为）冰冷的，冷淡的”，英文解释为“If someone, or someone's behaviour, is frosty, they are unfriendly and not welcoming.”举个🌰：He gave me a frosty look. 他冷冷地看了我一眼。

President Joe Biden has strongly supported Israel in its war against Hamas, providing significant military assistance. However, the administration recently called for humanitarian pauses and warned against inflicting outsized harm on Palestinian civilians.

现任总统乔·拜登（Joe Biden）强烈支持以色列对哈马斯的战争，并提供了大量军事援助。然而，拜登政府近期呼吁人道主义停火，并警告不要对巴勒斯坦平民造成过度伤害。

humanitarian /hjuːˌmæn.ɪˈter.i.ən/ 表示“人道主义的；人道主义者”，英文解释为“(a person who is) involved in or connected with improving people's lives and reducing suffering”举个🌰：The prisoner has been released for humanitarian reasons. 出于人道主义原因那名囚犯被释放了。

inflict /ɪnˈflɪkt/ 表示“使遭受，使承受”，英文解释为“to force someone to experience something very unpleasant”举个🌰：These new bullets are capable of inflicting massive injuries. 这些新型子弹可以造成重创。

Former President Donald Trump, whose administration closely aligned with Israel, initially criticized Netanyahu in the wake of Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack, saying he was “not prepared” and praising Hezbollah, a regional militant group, as “very smart.” Trump walked back the comments shortly after.

前总统唐纳德·特朗普（Donald Trump），其政府与以色列关系紧密，最初在哈马斯10月7日袭击后批评内塔尼亚胡“没有做好准备”，并称赞地区激进组织真主党（Hezbollah）“非常聪明”。特朗普随后收回了这一言论。

in the wake of表示“作为…的后果；随…之后而来”，英文解释为“If something happens in the wake of something else, it happens after and often because of it.”举个🌰：Airport security was extra tight in the wake of yesterday's attacks. 昨天的袭击发生之后，机场安检变得格外严格。

🎬电影《科洛弗道10号》（10 Cloverfield Lane）中的台词提到：In the wake of this afternoon's widespread blackout 在今天下午的大面积停电之后，...

🎬电影《阿波罗13号》（Apollo 13）中的台词提到：lt was that phosphorescent stuff that gets churned up in the wake of a big ship. 就是在大船驶过后被搅上来 会发出磷光的那种东西。

🎬传记电影《史蒂夫·乔布斯》（Steve Jobs）中的台词提到：Apple Computers closed two of its factories today in the wake of disappointing sales. 因为销量不佳 苹果电脑今天关闭了两家工厂。

表示“改变（意见）;收回（说法）”，英文解释为“to change an opinion that you had expressed before or admit that a statement you made was wrong”举个🌰：He has since walked back his opposition to the bill. 此后，他收回了对该法案的反对意见。

Former President George W. Bush described himself in a recent video as a “hardliner” and said: “My view is: One side is guilty. And it’s not Israel.” Bush warned that the fighting would be “ugly” but defended Israel’s right to retaliate against Hamas.

前总统乔治·W·布什（George W. Bush）在最近的一段视频中称自己是“强硬派”，他说：“我的观点是：有一方是有罪的，而且不是以色列。”小布什警告称，战斗将是“丑陋的”，但捍卫以色列报复哈马斯的权利。

hardliner = hard-liner /ˌhɑːdˈlaɪ.nər/ 表示“强硬派，强硬分子”，英文解释为“someone, especially in politics, who is very severe, for example in refusing to allow something or to reduce or change their demands in any way”

1）表示“保护，防卫；为…辩护”，英文解释为“to protect someone or something against attack or criticism; to speak in favour of someone or something”举个🌰：They are fighting to defend their beliefs/interests/rights. 他们在为捍卫自己的信仰/利益/权利而战。

2）表示“（在法庭上）为…辩护，当…的辩护律师”，英文解释为“to act as a lawyer for someone who has been accused of something in a court of law and try to prove that they are not guilty”举个🌰：I can't afford a lawyer, so I shall defend myself (= argue my own case in a court of law). 我请不起律师，所以我将在法庭上自辩。

3）表示“（运动比赛中）卫冕；蝉联冠军”，英文解释为“to compete in a sports competition that you won before and try to win it again”举个🌰：He will defend his 1,500 metre title this weekend. 他会在周末1500米比赛中争取卫冕。

4）表示“（在体育比赛中）防守，防卫”，英文解释为“to try to prevent the opposing player or players from scoring points, goals, etc. in a sport”举个🌰：In the last ten minutes of the game, we needed to defend. 我们得在比赛的最后十分钟内进行防守。

retaliate /rɪˈtælɪˌeɪt/ 表示“报复”，英文解释为“If you retaliate when someone harms or annoys you, you do something which harms or annoys them in return.”举个🌰：I was sorely tempted to retaliate. 我非常想报复。

🎬电影《老爷车》（Gran Torino）中的台词提到：Are you going to retaliate for what happened to Sue? 你会去为苏报仇吗？

South Carolina senator and Republican presidential contender Tim Scott pushed back on Obama’s comments in a statement to POLITICO Saturday.

南卡罗来纳州参议员、共和党总统候选人蒂姆·斯科特（Tim Scott）周六在给POLITICO的一份声明中反驳了奥巴马的言论。

表示“竞争者；争夺者”，英文解释为“someone who competes with other people to try to win something”举个🌰：Now aged 51, he is no longer considered a serious contender for the title. 他今年51岁，人们已不再认为他是夺冠的热门人物了。

区分：

📍contestant，表示“参赛者，选手”，英文解释为：A contestant in a competition or game show is a person who takes part in it.

“From Obama to Biden, Democrats have a problem: supporting Israel always has an asterisk,” Scott said.

斯科特说：“从奥巴马到拜登，民主党人都有一个问题：在支持以色列上总是带有条件。”

asterisk /ˈæs.tər.ɪsk/ 1）表示“星号*”，英文解释为：a mark like a star (*), used especially to show something interesting or important.

2）美式英语里asterisk /ˈæs.tər.ɪsk/ 还可以表示“侥幸；瑕疵；缺憾”，英文解释为“something that makes an achievement less impressive or less complete”举个🌰：It's a new world record, but one with an asterisk. 这次世界纪录的告破并非是完美无瑕的。

区分：

📍asteroid /ˈæstəˌrɔɪd/ asteroid表示“小行星”，英文解释为“one of the many small planets that move around the Sun, especially between Mars and Jupiter”

“Obama is dead wrong and he has a legacy of aiding those who support terrorism,” he continued. “The truth is simple: Hamas is evil.”

他接着说，“奥巴马大错特错，他有帮助那些支持恐怖主义者的传统。事实很简单：哈马斯是邪恶的。”

legacy /ˈleɡ.ə.si/ 1）表示“遗产，遗赠”，英文解释为“money or property that you receive from someone after they die”举个🌰：An elderly cousin had left her a small legacy. 一位堂兄留给她一小笔遗产。

2）表示“历史遗产，遗留物”，英文解释为“something that is a part of your history or that remains from an earlier time”举个🌰：The Greeks have a rich legacy of literature. 希腊人有丰富的文学遗产。

📍2022年政府工作报告Part 18中提到了这个词：用好北京冬奥会遗产。We will make the most of the legacy of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics.

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