JERUSALEM (JTA) — The images of the late Israeli Prime Ministers Menachem Begin and Yitzhak Rabin will appear on new Israeli currency.
The late writer S.Y. Agnon and poet Rachel Bluwstein Sela, who was known simply as Rachel, also have been chosen for the honor.
The Bank of Israel announced the new series of banknotes, and its honoring of the political and cultural history of Israel, on Sunday.
Begin and Rabin were chosen for signing peace treaties with Israel’s neighbors — Begin with Egypt and Rabin with Jordan and an interim agreement with the Palestinians — Bank of Israel Governor Stanley Fischer said.
The image choices require Cabinet approval.
The new currency, in the form of 20, 50, 100 and 200 shekel bills, is scheduled to be issued in 2012 and will include advanced anti-forgery methods.
