Not everyone is congratulating U.N., Annan for Nobel

Jewish leaders note that Annan has rejuvenated the world body in his five years at the helm. And while they recognize that he must tread carefully with his largest constituency -- the Arab-Muslim bloc -- they say he has been more sympathetic to Israel than have previous secretaries-general.

"I've seen up close the U.N.'s remarkable strengths and its glaring weaknesses," said David Harris, executive director of the American Jewish Committee, who recently spent a year monitoring U.N. activities in Geneva.

"That's why, for me, Kofi Annan truly deserves the award, but I don't have the same feeling for the institution he represents," Harris said. "Despite its noble aims it's too imperfect, too politicized and too blatantly unfair in its treatment of some member-states, including Israel."

Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres applauded the Annan decision, saying that the 63-year-old Ghanaian is known for his "humanitarian approach" and has changed the face of the UN.

"I am proud that someone like him heads the U.N.," Peres said. "He justifiably merited the award."

But Haim Avraham, father of St.-Sgt. Binyamin Avraham, captured by Hezbollah just over a year ago, has instructed his lawyer to appeal against the decision to awards.

Avraham and the parents of the other two soldiers kidnapped in the incident described the decision as a "shameful disgrace."

"This is the same U.N. which knew about the kidnappings, which made three video films and took photos, and which is still holding 53 items belonging to our boys -- of which they have allowed Israel to see seven, and even then only with difficulty," said Avraham.