For Obama, More Business Than Friendship with World Leaders

Presidents often depend on personal relationships with world leaders. Many people have commented on the personal relationship between U.S. President Barack Obama and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Some experts say current relations between the counties are connected to the leaders’ difficult relationship. They say friendship, or the lack of friendship, among world leaders can play a part in foreign affairs.

总统们非常依赖与各国领导人的人际关系。很对人都对美国总统奥巴马以及以色列总理内塔尼亚胡进行了评论。有些专家表示两国目前的关系与双方领导人之间的紧张关系有关。他们表示，世界领导人之间友好或者不友好会影响到外交事务。

Mr. Netanyahu spoke in early March . In the speech, he rejected U.S. efforts to limit Iran’s development of nuclear power in exchange for easing economic restrictions. Mr. Obama did not attend the speech. He said the U.S. president does not usually meet with foreign leaders right before elections in their home country.

三月初，内塔尼亚胡先生发表讲话，表示反对美国为了放松经济限制而限制伊朗研发核武器问题。奥巴马并未出席此次讲话。他表示美国总统在进行大选之前通常不会接见外国领导人。

Many said both men’s actions appeared to hurt ties between the countries further.A few weeks after the speech, Mr. Netanyahu said he opposed a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. U.S. policy supports a two-state solution.

很多人表示双方的行为似乎会影响两国之间的关系。几周之后，内塔尼亚胡表示反对采用两国方案解决巴以冲突，美国则持支持态度。

Mr. Netanyahu softened his opposition to a Palestinian state after he won re-election in Israel. But some say his position further damaged U.S.-Israeli relations.

内塔尼亚胡再次当选以色列总理之后，对反对巴勒斯坦国的意见有所缓和。但是一些人表示，他的反对意见会进一步影响以色列与美国的关系。

Aaron David Miller says many former U.S. and Israeli leaders have had tense relationship. But in those cases, Mr. Miller says, the leaders were able to work together despite disagreements and perhaps even dislike. The situation between Mr. Obama and Mr. Netanyahu is different.

米勒表示之前美国与以色列很多领导人的关系都非常紧张。但是很多情况下，领导人能够抛开分歧甚至是厌恶，一起合作。奥巴马与内塔尼亚胡则非如此。

Mr. Miller says successful world leaders love politics and people. And personalities matter. Mr. Miller says that unlike other recent presidents, including Mr. Clinton and George W. Bush, Mr. Obama is more analytical and introverted. In other words, he likes to be intellectual instead of emotional.

米勒表示，成功的世界领袖热爱政治和人们，个性非常重要。他表示，奥巴马与克林顿以及乔治·沃克·布什等总统不同。奥巴马总统更加善于分析，更加内向。换句话说，他很理性而非感性。

Matthew Dallek is a professor of political management at George Washington University in Washington, DC. He agrees that Mr. Obama appears to perform better with crowds than with individuals.

马修·达莱科是华盛顿特区乔治华盛顿大学政治管理的教授。他说，奥巴马总统更擅长与众人交往，而不擅长与单个人交往。

Mr. Dallek adds that developing friendships with foreign leaders is important for U.S. presidents, especially if a crisis happens. He uses the example of the Islamic State taking control of many parts of Syria and Iraq. In that case, President Obama reached out to other countries and formed a coalition against the militant group.

达莱科先生补充道，发展与外国领导人的关系对美国总统来说非常重要，发生危机的时候尤为如此。 他引用了伊斯兰国家控制叙利亚和伊拉克很多国土的例子。当时，奥巴马总统与其他国家通力合作，组成联合政府，反抗武装集团。

Mr. Dallek says good personal relationships cannot always overcome major policy disagreements. But, he says, when issues are tough personal relationships can make a big difference.

达莱科先生表示好的人际关系并不能完全克服重大的政策分歧。但是，问题难以解决时，人际关系会起到很大作用。

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来源:BBC英语爱语吧作者:Monica