II. Reading

l. Read the article through without a dictionary and say what issue it deals with.

The Times Monday June 04 2001

German Threat Forces Arafat Truce From Ross Dunn in Jerusalem

Yassir Arafat, the Palestinian leader, committed himself yesterday to a truce with Israel after a heated exchange with the German Government, which threatened to cut off aid to the Palestinian Authority

Palestinian factions disavowed Mr. Arafat's pledge, in the after-math of the suicide bombing outside a discotheque in Tel Aviv, which left 20 people dead. They insisted that their uprising against Israel would continue.

Joshka Fisher, the Foreign Minister, visited the scene of Friday's bombing in Tel Aviv and, before travelling to the West Bank to meet Mr. Arafat, was reported to have said: "The terror must be stopped." Western diplomats said that the German threat had come from Herr Fisher and that he had also drafted the condemnation of the attack that Mr. Arafat read out at a news conference in Ramallah.

"We exerted, and we will now continue to exert, our utmost efforts to stop the bloodshed of our people and of the Israeli people and to do all that-is needed to achieve an immediate and unconditional ceasefire," Mr. Arafat said.

Hamas said last night that it had carried out the bombing, although the father of the man said to have been the suicide bomber - Said Hotari, 22, from Zarqa in Jordan - said he knew of no link between his son and the organization. Hassan Hotari added, however: "I am very happy and proud of what my son did and I hope all the men of Palestine and Jordan would do the same." He said that his son had moved to the West Bank two years ago.

Representatives of 14 Palestinian factions met in Gaza yesterday. In a statement they said: "Our people have a right to defend themselves against aggression, occupation and( Jewish) settlements and pursue the popular intifada as a legitimate means against the continuing occupation of our land and to achieve our national rights." The meeting was attended by the 12 factions of the PLO, including Mr. Arafat's Fatah movement, as well as Hamas and Islamic Jihad. The statement made no direct reference to Mr. Arafat's promise of a ceasefire to end months of bloodshed.

Nearly all of those killed at the Tel Aviv disco were teenagers who had emigrated from Russia. Their pictures filled Israeli newspapers and their funerals yesterday were charged with sadness and anger.

Despite pressure to retaliate, Israel is weighing its response. For a second day Ariel Sharon, the Prime Minister, met the Defense and Foreign Ministers before convening the weekly Cabinet session, Israeli officials are demanding that Mr. Arafat act immediately to implement a ceasefire and say that they expect him to close factories producing explosives and to rearrest Islamic militants released from jail. Mr. Sharon said yesterday: "The things that must be done by Yasir Arafat immediately are to end incitement, to end acts of terror and violence, and to rearrest all the many terrorists freed by Arafat and who stand behind terror activities."

A Palestinian Cabinet Minister said that Mr. Arafat was trying to calm the situation and had set up security patrols to prevent shooting at flashpoints in the territories. However, he said that the Palestinians would not take orders from Israel to arrest Islamic militants while Israel continued to occupy the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Since the bombing Israel has tightened its closure of the West Bank and Gaza Strip, sealing borders and resisting Palestinian movement.

2. General Comprehension.

Say which statements reflect the principle ideas of the article:

1. German threat to cut off financial aid to Palestine forced Yasir Arafat to sign truce agreement with Israel.

2. Palestinian faction leaders supported Arafat's decision.

3. Radical movement Islamic Jihad recognized allegations of a disco bombing in Tel Aviv.

4. Suicide bomber's father didn't approve of his son's actions.

5. Israeli officials demand that Y.Arafat act immediately to implement ceasefire.

6. The Palestinians agreed to arrest all Islamic militants.

7. Israel has sealed the borders to restrict movement of the Palestinians.

3. Detailed comprehension.

Read the article a second time for details and answer the questions:

1. Where does German government come in insolving the Middle East problem?

2. What information did you learn about the suicide bombing in Tel Aviv?

3. Who drafted the condemnation announcement read out by Y.Arafat?

4. What pledge did Y. Arafat make?

5. What did you learn about the suicide bomber?

6. What is the position of 14 leaders of different factions of the PLO?

7. Is the pressure to retaliate strong within Israel?

8. What demands can't Palestinians meet?(give up)

9. What security measures were undertaken by the Israeli side to prevent future violence?