10 agorot controversy

Arafat's claims

In support of his claim that the 10 agorot coins displayed a Greater Israel, Arafat also quoted a 1989 paper by Gwyn Rowley of the University of Sheffield published in GeoJournal. The paper titled "Developing Perspectives upon the Areal Extent of Israel: An Outline Evaluation" raised the question of what the maximum territorial extents of Eretz Yisrael were in the eyes of Israelis.}}

S. M. Berkowicz, of the Department of Physical Geography, at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem criticized Rowley's article in a subsequent paper also published by GeoJournal. Berkowicz concluded that the shape was based on an ancient coin and "There is of course no foundation to Rowley's undocumented claim." Rowley then responded that the coin might have been chosen because of its map-like shape.

Arafat's meeting in Geneva generated widespread global media coverage.

Details of design

The Bank of Israel maintains that the 10 agorot design was selected for its historical value, and is a "replica of a coin issued by Mattathias Antigonus (40–37 B.C.E.) with the seven-branched candelabrum".

The design, by Nathan Karp, first appeared on the 100 shekel coin issued by the Bank of Israel on 2 May 1984. When the old shekel currency was replaced by the new shekel in September 1985, the design was copied to the new 10 agorot coin, which was equal in value to the old 100 shekel. This design was also adopted as the symbol of the Bank of Israel.

References

References

1. Yasir Arafat: A Political Biography: A Political Biography, Barry Rubin. Page 241
2. Pipes, Daniel. (1998). "The Hidden Hand: Middle East Fears of Conspiracy". St Martin's Press.
3. Rowley, Gwyn. (April 1991). "The Areal Extent of Israel: Passions, Prejudices and Realities". GeoJournal.
4. Rowley, Gwyn. (1989). "Developing Perspectives upon the Areal Extent of Israel: An Outline Evaluation". GeoJournal.
5. ''GeoJournal'', March 1991, Volume 23, Issue 3, pp. 187–196, "Developing perspectives upon the areal extent of Israel: A reply", S. M. Berkowicz
6. Pipes, Daniel. (1998). "The Hidden Hand: Middle East Fears of Conspiracy". Palgrave Macmillan.
7. "10 Agora (need to click "Coins", then "10 Agora")".
8. "Past Notes & Coins Series".