We often hear the expression 'mayday' in movies.
Mayday is an emergency code word. It is used around the world in voice communications. You might see a war movie in which an airplane has been hit by rocket fire. The pilot gets on his radio and calls “mayday, mayday, mayday” to tell that his plane is in danger of crashing to the ground.
U.S. President Barack Obama has called the situation in the Gaza Strip "unsustainable," and called for a new approach to improve conditions in the Palestinian territory.
Mr. Obama made the remarks Wednesday following his meeting at the White House with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.
Speaking about Israel's blockade on Gaza, the American president said there must be a way to preserve Israel's security while allowing Palestinians to thrive.
Mr. Abbas called on Israel to lift what he called a "siege" on the Palestinian people, and to open all border crossings.
Mr. Obama also announced U.S. plans to provide an additional 0 million in aid for Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank.
Last week, the Israeli military raided an aid convoy trying to break Israel's blockade of the Gaza Strip.Eight Turks and an American of Turkish origin were killed in the operation.
Mr. Obama called the incident a tragedy and reiterated support for the U.N. Security Council's call for a transparent investigation.
Israel has defended its actions in the raid, saying its troops acted in self defense.
The United States has been mediating indirect peace talks between the Israelis and Palestinians.President Obama predicted "real progress" in talks this year.
U.S. Middle East envoy George Mitchell met last week with Mr. Abbas and Mr. Netanyahu in the latest round of proximity talks.
Shortly before the talks, Israel announced it is easing restrictions on some formerly banned food and personal items into Gaza. Palestinian officials say Israel has lifted its restrictions on products including potato chips, soft drinks and juice.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was scheduled to meet with President Obama in Washington earlier this month, but canceled the trip following the flotilla incident.Israeli officials say Mr. Netanyahu will now visit the White House later this month.
Words and Phrases in Use
unsustainable (a) 不能持續的；無法維持的
call for (v. phr.) 要求
remark (n.) 評述；意見
following (prep.) 隨著 . . . 之後
對於近日Gaza Strip (加薩走廊)的局勢，美國總統Obama沒有用unstable(不穩定)來形容，而是使用了”unsustainable”這個字，或許是要表示這樣的僵局是種不良的發展，不可持續之意。把un的字頭拿掉，”sustainable”在環境保護意識高漲的現在，是很常用、常見的字，表示「不侵害生態的、破壞生態平合、合理利用自然資源的」，所以也是「可持續的」之意。 “following” 在這裡直接是當成介係詞使用，與after差不多，但除了單獨時間上的「之後」，還多了「因此、由於」的含意。
blockade (n) 封鎖；包圍
siege (n) （軍隊對城鎮的）圍困，包圍，圍攻
call on (v. phr.) 號召;請求
convoy (n.) 船隊，車隊
operation (n) 軍事行動
以色列對Gaza strip (加薩走廊)實施禁運，只有人道與救援物資可以通行，目的是為了阻斷 Hamas(巴勒斯坦主張不惜使用武力來對抗以色列的組織)物資上的補給與重整。由文字上的blockade(封鎖)跟siege(處於戰爭狀態的軍事圍攻)兩字的差異，可以看的出來雙方所要強調的立場。上周試圖突破封鎖的船隊(convoy、flotilla) 遭以色列突擊(raid)，造成死傷。這起加薩走廊外海由軍事行動(operation)所引發的衝突事件，也讓這裡的不穩定的區域情勢再度陷入緊張。
reiterate (v) 重申
in self defense (phr) 出自於自衛
mediate (v) 協調，斡旋
talks (n. pl.) 晤談；正式的官方會議
通篇出現了很多的”talks”，顯示最佳解決紛爭、避免衝突的方式，還是得透過溝通與對談。talk這個字當可數名詞使用的時候，意思上都是比較「正經、嚴肅」的談話，例如 have a long talk with sb (與某人促膝長談)、give a talk on sth (對某主題演講)，而當不可數名詞的時候，則是指「講話、說話」，這類有時候接近無意識的嚼舌根動作，也用來指具有某種特色的說話方式，例如 make small talk (與人寒喧)、street talk (俚語、俗語、流行語)、sweet talk (甜言蜜語)。政治上的談話是正式的，所以是當可數名詞之用，而且只談一次是談不攏的，可預期有很多回合 (round)，所以政治會談還得用複數型表示。這裡有幾種常見的政治性會談： direct talks 是雙方直接的對談，indirect talks就會由第三方促成的間接會彈。強調和平、不動武的 peace talks (和平談判)，也可以間接達成，成了 indirect peace talks，這裡的 proximity talks (間接談判)則是雙方都推派代表，但不直接對談，而是由美國居中協調 (mediate)，讓兩方可以達到某種共識。
restriction (n) 限制、約束
flotilla (n) 船隊
以色列決定要鬆綁與取消 (ease, lift)一些禁運物品的限制 (restrictions)。「限制、禁止」類的名詞，後面常用的介系詞是 on，前面所列的 blockade、siege後面都是接著 on使用常用。搭配的動詞如這裡所用的 impose(施加)、ease (鬆綁)、lift (取消)， 這裡的結構是 ease/lift restrictions on sth。另一常用字是 ban (明令禁止；取締)，用法也是 impose/lift a ban on sth。
Source：
館藏介紹
英語宅急便 
