Israel’s bank-note makeover gets ugly

When Israel decided to redesign its bank notes, it ran into some trouble: No one, apparently, fit the bill.

A year ago, a committee empowered by the Bank of Israel chose Theodor Herzl, David Ben-Gurion, Menachem Begin and Yitzhak Rabin to adorn the country’s four bank notes. A balanced choice, many would say: the visionary of the Jewish state, Israel’s first prime minister, the hawk who forged peace with Egypt, and the soldier-turned-dove who made peace with Jordan and was slain while advancing the process with the Palestinians.

The modest Begin family objected. Right-wing circles that believe Rabin betrayed Israel declared that they would boycott his bill. Others complained that Herzl and Ben-Gurion had had their turn on the bank notes. Still others launched a Facebook campaign demanding a bill for Rehavam Zeevi, a nationalist Cabinet minister killed by Palestinians early in the second intifada.

Most vehement of all were women’s rights activists, outraged at the all-male cast. (The last woman to grace a bank note was the late Prime Minister Golda Meir.) Finance Minister Yuval Steinitz sent the bank back to the drawing board, demanding representation for women — starting with the committee itself, which promptly added four women.

And no more political leaders, Steinitz ordered.

Though women are not technically a minority, “they have an impressive lobbying system,” said Anat Saragusti, director of Agenda, a media strategy organization that advocates on social issues and for representation of minorities in the media. “They are more successful than others in setting an agenda, as they did in this case.”

Several weeks ago, a new recommendation leaked to the media: Hebrew poets — two men, two women — would adorn the bills.

As a poet, Eliaz Cohen was flattered that members of his profession could be honored. “Sadly, poetry has come down from its glory, no longer the talk of parlors and cafes as it was in the past. This restores some pride, a very satisfying tribute,” he said, noting that although poetry’s popularity is down, poets still enjoy a special public standing.

But as a citizen, Cohen was dismayed that the government was so quick to give up on leaders, itself a sign of insecure leadership.

“We’re already past that post-ideological phase,” he said. “Today, many Israelis crave the grounding, great leadership and vision currently lacking in all fields.”

Throughout time, currency has made statements of sovereignty and belonging. Ancient coins were used, and abused, to tighten rulers’ bonds with their people and hold together sprawling kingdoms.

Rejecting august leaders to escape controversy “shows the entire foundation is not in consensus; there’s no common ethos,” Saragusti said. A makeover of American money didn’t touch the featured founding father.

“Get rid of Benjamin Franklin? They wouldn’t dare,” said Reuven Stoler, chairman of Israel’s Numismatic Assn.

But in the end, perhaps Israel won’t dare, either.

After months of confidential deliberations, the Bank of Israel has spoken: Begin, Rabin, Nobel-winning writer S.Y. Agnon and the poet Rachel Blaustein will appear on the four bank notes. Bank Gov. Stanley Fischer decided to “incorporate two aspects of Israel’s history, the political and cultural,” a statement said.

This time, the visionaries of statesmanship and culture meet with Eliaz Cohen’s approval. “A wise and responsible choice,” he said.

But not everyone is pleased. The Begin family is still protesting, commentators point out that Agnon is already on the outgoing bills, and there is only one woman. Least happy is the finance minister. His express directive — no leaders — was ignored.

Oded Shahar, a feisty economic commentator, denounced Fischer’s move as “disgraceful, arrogant and inconsiderate.” The governor bypassed the minister and “ran to close things behind his back with the prime minister,” Shahar said angrily on Israel Radio. He hopes the list is rejected by the government, which may vote on it next week.

The saga has produced some humorous moments. Last year, advertising agencies offered their own designs. These included a “minus-100” bill, a nod to some Israelis’ habitual overdraft; and one sporting Bazooka Joe, a throwback to the not-so-long-ago days when people were given bubble gum for change.

Stoler, however, is excited about the new money.

“From my standpoint, this is fantastic,” the Tel Aviv collector said with satisfaction. “I get to put another four bills in my album.”

Sobelman is a news assistant in The Times’ Jerusalem Bureau.