Many Israelis appear to be quite unhappy with the awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize to the United Nations and its head, Kofi Anan. Knesset Speaker Avraham Burg sent a letter to the prize-awarding committee, saying that it should have been aware of the UN\'s behavior during and following the kidnapping of the three Israeli soldiers. Coalition head Likud MK Ze\'ev Boim, speaking on Arutz-7 today, agreed, saying that not only did the UN contingent on the scene at the time turn a blind eye to the kidnapping, but the UN even tried to hide the evidence afterwards.
\"Furthermore,\" Boim continued, \"Kofi Anan and the other UN-related organizations did not succeed in obtaining any form of communication with the abducted soldiers... I am happy that Burg released such a statement around which the Knesset can unite.\" It was noted that among Israel\'s public figures, only Shimon Peres seemed to approve the Nobel Prize choice; Peres said on Friday that he thought the winners were worthy, and that he is proud that such a man [Anan] heads the UN. MK Boim expressed a lack of understanding as to why Peres would take such a position in light of the UN\'s record regarding the abducted Israelis.
Regarding the winter Knesset session which begins tomorrow, Boim agreed that his job as coalition leader would not be easy: \"I will have to dismantle the \'mines\' that face us, such as the resignation of MK Benny Elon from his position as coalition representative in his party [National Union-Yisrael Beiteinu; he quit in protest of the government\'s policy of restraint towards the Palestinian Authority]... It is true that Sharon faces a difficulty in maneuvering between the [political] right and left, and this is because he genuinely recognizes the value of a national-unity government. It helps us present a united front to the world, and enables us to do away with the zero-sum game between right and left. Arafat is trying to sow discord in Israeli society, and he is not succeeding, except possibly in the case of Shimon Peres…\"
\"Furthermore,\" Boim continued, \"Kofi Anan and the other UN-related organizations did not succeed in obtaining any form of communication with the abducted soldiers... I am happy that Burg released such a statement around which the Knesset can unite.\" It was noted that among Israel\'s public figures, only Shimon Peres seemed to approve the Nobel Prize choice; Peres said on Friday that he thought the winners were worthy, and that he is proud that such a man [Anan] heads the UN. MK Boim expressed a lack of understanding as to why Peres would take such a position in light of the UN\'s record regarding the abducted Israelis.
Regarding the winter Knesset session which begins tomorrow, Boim agreed that his job as coalition leader would not be easy: \"I will have to dismantle the \'mines\' that face us, such as the resignation of MK Benny Elon from his position as coalition representative in his party [National Union-Yisrael Beiteinu; he quit in protest of the government\'s policy of restraint towards the Palestinian Authority]... It is true that Sharon faces a difficulty in maneuvering between the [political] right and left, and this is because he genuinely recognizes the value of a national-unity government. It helps us present a united front to the world, and enables us to do away with the zero-sum game between right and left. Arafat is trying to sow discord in Israeli society, and he is not succeeding, except possibly in the case of Shimon Peres…\"