The Hindu Editorial Vocabulary– May 11, 2021; Day 58

Today we have collated the 10 tricky words/phrases/terms from the editorial on international pressure on Israel. Go through these words and see how many did you know already. Check their usage as well. This will surely help you to understand the sense the tricky words have conveyed in the editorial.

Difficult Word/ Phrase	Contextual Meaning
Culmination	the highest or climactic point of something, especially as attained after a long time
Eviction	the action of expelling someone, especially a tenant, from a property; expulsion
Disperse	to break up in random fashion
Break out	(of war, fighting, or similarly undesirable things) start suddenly
Sovereignty	supreme power or authority
Tactic	an action or strategy carefully planned to achieve a specific end
Carte blanche	complete freedom to act as one wishes
Repression	the action of subduing someone or something by force
Mend ways	to change or improve one’s behavior
Yoke	something that connects two things or people, usually in a way that unfairly limits freedom

On the edge: On international pressure on Israel

There must be international pressure on Israel to treat Palestinians with dignity

The ongoing violence in Jerusalem is a culmination (the highest or climactic point of something, especially as attained after a long time) of the tensions building up since the start of Ramzan in mid-April. When Israeli police set up barricades at the Damascus Gate, a main entrance to the occupied Old City, preventing Palestinians from gathering there, it led to clashes. Last week, close to a scheduled Israeli Supreme Court hearing on the eviction (the action of expelling someone, especially a tenant, from a property; expulsion) of Palestinian families in an Arab neighbourhood of Jerusalem, tensions escalated. Israeli police entered the Haram al-Sharif compound (Noble Sanctuary), which houses the Al-Aqsa mosque, Islam’s third holiest site, to disperse (to break up in random fashion) the protesters, injuring hundreds of Palestinians. A Jewish settlement agency has issued eviction notices to Palestinian families in Sheikh Jarrah, claiming that their houses sit on land purchased by Jewish agencies in the late 19th century (when historic Palestine was a part of the Ottoman Empire). Arab families have been living in Sheikh Jarrah for generations. The Israeli Supreme Court postponed the hearing on Monday on the advice of the government. Despite the volatile situation, the Israeli authorities gave permission to the annual Jerusalem Day Flag March, traditionally taken out by Zionist youth through the Muslim Quarter of East Jerusalem to mark the city’s capture by the Israelis. More violence broke out ((of war, fighting, or similarly undesirable things) start suddenly) ahead of the march on Monday morning.

Jerusalem has been at the heart of the Israel-Palestine conflict. Israel, which captured the western part of the city in the 1948 first Arab-Israel war and the eastern half in the 1967 Six-Day War, claims sovereignty (supreme power or authority) over the whole city whereas the Palestinians say East Jerusalem should be the capital of their future state. Most countries have not recognised Israel’s claim over the city and are of the view that its status should be resolved as part of a final Israel-Palestine settlement. Israel’s tactic (an action or strategy carefully planned to achieve a specific end) till now has been to hold on to the status quo through force. A peace process is non-existent and the Palestinians are divided and weak. With carte blanche (complete freedom to act as one wishes) from the Trump administration, Israel expanded its settlements and extended repression (the action of subduing someone or something by force) of the Palestinians in the occupied territories. The move to evict Palestinians from East Jerusalem is seen as an attempt to forcibly expand Jewish settlements in the Arab neighbourhoods of the Old City. Israel’s actions have triggered condemnations from across the world, but it is unlikely to mend its ways (mend ways means to change or improve one’s behavior). The international community, which largely overlooked Israel’s violent repression of Palestinians, should pressure Tel Aviv to at least treat the Palestinians with dignity, if not to ease the yoke (something that connects two things or people, usually in a way that unfairly limits freedom) of the occupation. U.S. President Joe Biden has said that America’s commitment to human rights would be at the centre of his foreign policy. In West Asia, he faces a reality check.

Hope you got to know some new words/phrases which will definitely be useful in the English section of upcoming competitive exams. Wishing you all the best for your preparation!

Want to improve your vocabulary further? Download the Lists of Word-Meanings of Previous Months here.