Banksy decorates West Bank hotel with views of Israel's wall

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A hotel which prides itself on the "worst view in the world" is set to attract international attention - because it is a collaboration with the famous street artist Banksy.

The Walled Off Hotel in Bethlehem looks out on the concrete slabs of the controversial barrier Israel has built in and around the occupied West Bank.

Israel says it is needed to prevent terror attacks. Palestinians say it is a device to grab land and the International Court of Justice has called it illegal.

The rooms of the hotel are also filled with the anonymous artist's work, much of which is about the conflict.

The owners say it will be a real, functioning hotel, opening on 20 March.

But the hotel is also part art gallery and part political statement.

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Most cities in the West Bank are off-limits for Israeli visitors. But the Walled Off Hotel sits along a part which remains under Israel's control - meaning Israeli visitors can visit the Walled Off Hotel and see Banksy's latest creations.

 

 

 

 

Every room is decorated with works by Banksy. "My accountant was worried some people will be too scared to travel to the West Bank," the artist said in a press release. "But then I remind him - for my last show they spent a whole day in Weston-super-Mare," he added, referencing his dystopian theme park on the English coast.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The works include a mural in one bedroom of an Israeli solider and his Palestinian counterpart having a pillow fight. In the presidential suite, the bed is decorated in romantic red - with a painting of a heart contained by barbed wire as its centrepiece.

 

 

 

 

The hotel is proud of its self-declared "worst view in the world", coupled with its British colonial aesthetic. Afternoon tea is served daily, and there are several references to British culture throughout.

 

 

 

 

Even the typical hotel television has been transformed into a piece of political art.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The presidential suite is decorated in mock-colonial style. The owners said the style was an "English gentlemen's club from colonial times".

 

 

 

 

 

"However, the refined ambience has been brought right up to date - the oil painted seascapes are awash with refugees' life jackets, statues choke on tear gas fumes and cherubs fall to earth starved of breath."

 

 

 

 

 

 

Among those references is a recreation, housed in the museum area, of the signing of the Balfour declaration, which gave British endorsement for "the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people". Banksy said: "It's exactly one hundred years since Britain took control of Palestine and started re-arranging the furniture - with chaotic results."

 

 

 

 

 

The bar area is also decorated - but with security cameras, slingshots and sledgehammers in direct reference to the security barrier outside and the conflict it was built as a result of. The restaurant area features more politically-charged artwork. There is also a gallery on the ground floor filled with Palestinian art.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The hotel will accept bookings from 11 March, nine days before its opening. Its doors directly face a stretch of the wall which Banksy has previously painted. "Walls are hot right now," the press statement quoted Banksy saying, "but I was into them long before Trump made it cool."

 

 

 

 

The Walled Off Hotel opens on 20 March.

 

[HunterSThompson 4,646]

I don't know how I feel about this. I'm all for beautiful art that illustrates conflict/human rights violations/times of war or contention etc., but this just doesn't feel right? It feels like it's exploiting the Palestinian plight imo  Like... their struggle is not our museum. I don't know, maybe I'm just too cynical or too sensitive. I'm not Palestinian, though part of my family is Jewish, so I'd love to get a Palestinian's take on this. This would make for an interesting conversation!

 

(I'm also not the biggest fan of Banksy so I am biased)

[reputation 6,321]

Stupid

[expandableclitoris 9,091]

I don't know how I feel about this. I'm all for beautiful art that illustrates conflict/human rights violations/times of war or contention etc., but this just doesn't feel right? It feels like it's exploiting the Palestinian plight imo  Like... their struggle is not our museum. I don't know, maybe I'm just too cynical or too sensitive. I'm not Palestinian, though part of my family is Jewish, so I'd love to get a Palestinian's take on this. This would make for an interesting conversation!

 

(I'm also not the biggest fan of Banksy so I am biased)

 

Do you even know what this conflict is about?

[HunterSThompson 4,646]

Do you even know what this conflict is about?

 

Yep! I wouldn't have posted my opinion if I didn't

[expandableclitoris 9,091]

Yep! I wouldn't have posted my opinion if I didn't

 

Got your comment misunderstood, sorry bad english

 

But I think Banksy is obv ironizing the illegal wall and the nerve Israel have for taking over a territory which they dont belong to. I don't think it's exploitation, he's just grabbing more attention to it. But it's just my opinion.

[HunterSThompson 4,646]

But I think Banksy is obv ironizing the illegal wall and the nerve Israel have for taking over a territory which they dont belong to. I don't think it's exploitation, he's just grabbing more attention to it. But it's just my opinion.

Yeah I get that  Again, I think I'm just too cynical to appreciate Banksy and his work. To me, it just feels like an exploitation. However, I do like that he included local Palestinian art in the hotel, I think that's super cool.

[graham4anything 2,859]

My opinion is that this is NOT ISRAEL but rightwinger neo-con Bibi N.'s doing

 

Like Donald Trump and Bernie Sanders, for that matter, the constant throwing around of anti-Semitic terminology and the blaming of the Jewish people for what Bibi is doing is wrong wrong wrong wrong

 

Rabin wanted peace, and wanted a two state solution and he was killed (most likely by Bibi spy agency) and later Ariel Sharon finally

was coming around to a peaceful 2 state solution when he mysteriously not only turned ill, but had a long, long, long, long detour of a trip to the hospital, never regaining consciousness again

 

Bibi wins with the far right neo-nazi's and is governing from the far right, like his friend Donald Trump who delights in his string puller Putin and Steve Bannon using anti-Semitic rhetoric

 

Banksy is making his personal artistic statement, and as a believer in the US 1st amendment (unlike Donald Trump who is attempting to get rid of it), I feel he has a right to his opinion, so I won't comment any further on Banksy's involvement. (Yes I know Banksy is not American)

 

There should have been term limits for Bibi a decade ago (same with Putin who should retire).

 

IMHO.

 

Another Rabin is needed to lead Israel and also an anti-aggression to Iran needs to be in place, to allow Iran to move into the 21st Century

[TRENCH 15,450]

Can someone explain to me this whole Israel-Palenstine conflict (so ironic considering im majoring in politics) from what I read it's just so petty and a waste of time. Idk why the U.S. is involved nonoetheless giving Israel billions in money anyways when i doubt thay have ever done anything for us.

[HunterSThompson 4,646]

@

 

 

I'd watch this. It's short and concise although the issue is so incredibly complex. Shortest answer I can give is that it's all about a claim to land. Also, I'm a political science major as well

@ 

 

Here's another one from a slightly different perspective, enjoy friend

[TRENCH 15,450]

@

 

 

I'd watch this. It's short and concise although the issue is so incredibly complex. Shortest answer I can give is that it's all about a claim to land. Also, I'm a political science major as well

 

Here's another ne rom a slightly different perspective, enjoy friend

 

omg 

and thank you, now i understand everything!! I still don't understand the intervention of the US (if there is one) and why we are "supposedly" throwing away money to the Israel government (this is something ive heard over and over but idk how factual that is)