In the face of a public outcry, Governor of the Bank of Israel Prof. Stanley Fischer has returned the list of names of public figures whose portraits will appear on new banknotes that will enter circulation in 2012 to the advisory committee. Supreme Court Justice Emeritus Yaakov Terkel chairs the committee.
Media reports last week were focused on Bank of Israel plans to change the current figures whose portraits appear on the NIS 20, 50, 100, and 200 banknotes, and replace them with Zionist visionary Theodor Herzl, and prime ministers David Ben Gurion, Menachem Begin, and Yitzhak Rabin. However, the issue is apparently so sensitive and emotional that the resulting lobbying forced the Bank of Israel to change its choice of images.
The Bank of Israel said that "in view of the public responses" it was sending the selection back to committee. It added that Fischer had updated Minister of Finance Yuval Steinitz and asked Judge Terkel to prepare a new list which "will take into account the opinions heard from the public in recent days."
Among the criticisms heard was why no women were on the new bills.
The Bank of Israel added, "The purpose in changing the design of the banknotes is also to boost public awareness of the persons, symbols, and values that are an important part in the creation of the history of the State of Israel."
Hebrew daily "Ma'ariv" today reported that Steinitz wanted to put late singer Naomi Shemer on one of the new banknotes, after the family of late Prime Minister Menachem Begin opposed commemorating him by putting his portrait on the new banknotes. Shemer was Steinitz's first choice; his second choice was famed poet Rachel.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on December 21, 2009
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