赖斯前往中东推动达成和平协议

美国最高外交官为一项新的和平使命再次前往中东，不过几乎没有人期望这次和平使命会取得重大突破。

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is still pushing for a peace agreement by the end of the year. Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert plans to resign next month over a corruption scandal, but under Israel's complicated system of government, Mr. Olmert could remain in office for many months as caretaker prime minister, even after his Kadima party chooses a new leader in September.

美国国务卿赖斯仍然在推动中东各方在今年年底之前达成和平协议。以色列总理奥尔默特因为腐败丑闻计划下个月辞职，但是根据以色列复杂的政府体制，即使他领导的前进党9月选出了新的领导人，奥尔默特还可能做为看守总理继续担任公职好几个月。

Mr. Olmert's spokesman, Mark Regev, says Israel will do all it can to reach a peace deal before U.S. President George Bush leaves office in January.

奥尔默特的发言人雷格夫说，以色列将尽一切可能在美国总统布什明年1月卸任之前达成和平协议。

"We're focused on what needs to be done, and we're very committed to trying to reach a historic agreement by the end of this year, and we're working to see that that can happen," he said.

雷格夫说：“我们把重点放在必须要做的事情上，我们决心在年底之前争取达成一项具有历史意义的协议，我们正在为实现这个目标而努力。”

As a goodwill gesture to Western-backed Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, Israel plans to free 199 Palestinian prisoners on Monday to coincide with Rice's arrival. In a change of policy, this will include the release of two prisoners involved in deadly attacks on Israelis.

以色列计划在星期一释放199名巴勒斯坦囚犯，做为对西方支持的巴勒斯坦民族权力机构主席阿巴斯做出的友好姿态。星期一也正是赖斯抵达以色列的当天。由于政策的改变，这次释放的囚犯中包括两名参与对以色列进行致命袭击的巴勒斯坦囚犯。

While Palestinian officials have welcomed the prisoner release as an important step, they are pessimistic about the chances of a broader peace deal.

虽然巴勒斯坦官员欢迎以色列释放囚犯，认为那是重要的一步，但是他们对达成一项内容更广泛的和平协议态度悲观。

"Palestinians are extremely skeptical. I think, deep down, the Palestinians feel that this isn't anything that is substantive or serious," said Hanan Ashrawi, Palestinian legislator.

巴勒斯坦议员阿什拉维说：“巴勒斯坦人持极为怀疑的态度。我认为，实际上巴勒斯坦人觉得这并不是具有实质意义或者严重的事情。”

Gaps remain wide on the core issues of the conflict, including Jewish settlements, Palestinian refugees, final borders and the status of Jerusalem.

巴勒斯坦和以色列在双方冲突的核心问题上依然存在很大分歧，包括犹太人定居点、巴勒斯坦难民、最后边界以及耶路撒冷的地位等。