Israel Begins 5-day Civil Defense Drill Amid War Fears
以色列举行民防演习引发邻国担心

　 
Israel has launched a major civil defense exercise amid fears of war.

在人们广泛担心爆发战争之际，以色列举行了一次大规模的民防演习。

Israel is conducting a five-day home-front security drill to prepare for the possibility of a major terrorist attack, war or natural disaster. Schools, hospitals and government offices are involved in the drill, which includes preparation for a missile attack with nuclear, chemical or biological warheads.

以色列正在进行一次为期5天的后方安全演习，为可能发生大规模恐怖袭击、战争或自然灾害做准备。参加这次演习的包括学校、医院和政府机构。演习的内容包括为发生携带核弹头、化学弹头或生物弹头的导弹袭击做准备。

The drill has raised fears in neighboring Lebanon and Syria that Israel might be planning an attack, and those countries have raised the level of alert in their armed forces. Prime Minister Ehud Olmert sought to ease tensions.

这次军事演习引发邻国黎巴嫩和叙利亚的担忧，他们担心以色列可能计划发动袭击。这些国家已经让自己的武装部队进入戒备状态。以色列总理奥尔默特希望能缓和紧张局势。

It is a routine drill, Mr. Olmert said at the weekly Cabinet meeting, adding that Israel does not want a war.

奥尔默特在每周一次的例行内阁会议上说，这是一次例行的演习，以色列并不想发动战争。

The exercise underscores concerns about a non-conventional war with Iran, which Israel believes is developing nuclear weapons. Iran says its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes, but its president has threatened to wipe Israel "off the map."

这次演习增强了人们对同伊朗发生非常规战争的担忧。以色列认为伊朗在发展核武器。伊朗表示，他们发展核项目是为了和平目的，但是伊朗总统威胁说，要把以色列“从地图上抹去”。

Coby Vinsburg of Israel's National Emergency Management Authority says the Middle East is a bad neighborhood that is becoming more dangerous.

以色列国家紧急应变管理局的温斯伯格说，中东是一个糟糕的地方，变得越来越危险。

"Israel has to be ready all the time in a very high alert and very high level," said Vinsburg.

他说：“以色列必须随时做好准备，处于高度戒备状态。”

The civil defense exercise is the biggest in years, and in a sign of growing regional tensions, from now on it will be conducted annually.

这次民防演习是数年来最大的一次。从现在开始，以色列每年都要举行这样的演习，这显示这个地区的紧张局势在不断加剧。