Begin family opposes new banknote proposals

Benny Begin: We have always opposed this use of my father's portrait.

Governor of the Bank of Israel Stanley Fischer's plans to put a portrait of former Prime Minister Menachem Begin on new banknotes are opposed by the Begin family.

Minister without Portfolio Benny Begin, the son of the late prime minister told "Globes," "We have consistently opposed this use (of his father's portrait)."

When asked why he had not warned Fischer he said, "Nobody has spoken with me."

He declined to comment on what steps he might take to prevent the implementation of the Bank of Israel's decision to replace the existing banknotes in 2012 with bills portraying Begin as well as another former Prime MinisterYitzhak Rabin, Nobel Literature Prize winner Shai Agnon and the poetess Rachel. Sources in Jerusalem told "Globes" that Benny Begin plans asking Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Minister of Finance Yuval Steinitz to help him scuttle the idea.

Sources inform "Globes" that Minister of Finance Yuval Steinitz is also opposed to the Bank of Israel's choice and prefers the Turkel Committee's recommendations of Leah Goldberg, Shaul Tchernikovsky, Natan Alterman and Rachel.

Published by Globes, Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on December 19, 2010

© Copyright of Globes Publisher Itonut (1983) Ltd. 2010

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