The biggest economic news in Israel these days has nothing to do with the following post. Just clarifying.

The Bank of Israel is revamping the country’s money to include images of former Prime Minster and peace process visionary Yitzhak Rabin and former Prime Minister Menachem Begin, who spearheaded peace efforts with Egypt.

The inclusion of both men on Israel’s money, anticipated to be phased in during the next two years, may have no political implications.

Or, it might.

Both men, one from the left-wing Labor party and the other from the right-wing Likud, represent often opposing ideologies that were central to Israeli politics before the creation of Kadima, the rise of Yisrael Beitenu, and the downfall of Meretz and the Israeli left.

However, both men also embody the peace movement. Begin secured a peace treaty with Israeli nemesis Egypt in exchange for the Sinai, a huge swath of land acquired by Israel in war. Rabin paid the heftiest of prices for his support of a peace process with the Palestinians that resulted in his assassination by a religious fanatic.

Both men were clearly influential and tremendously important in Israeli politics. But, both men were also extremely controversial and loathed by certain, albeit small, segments of the Israeli population. For example, Rabin’s killer still maintains support from some far right-wing groups that oppose exchanging land for peace with the Palestinians.

The response this action receives from opponents of both men will be interesting to watch. Will they actively lobby the government to remove Rabin from the currency, refuse to use the monetary bills with his face on them, or reluctantly buy their falafel with a bill containing the etching of a man whose murder they lauded?

I, for one, look forward to receiving my first Rabin and Begin-laden bills. Hopefully, I’ll have enough money saved up in the bank to afford hanging onto them and not, reluctantly, spend them on a falafel for myself.