Secretive British street artist Banksy has opened a hotel next to Israel’s controversial separation wall in Bethlehem, his latest artwork in the Palestinian territories.
The 10-room Walled Off Hotel fits in with the artist’s dystopian work, with rooms facing out onto the grim view of the wall, which cuts through the occupied West Bank.
Banksy’s spokespeople insisted the building was not merely an artistic statement but also an active hotel, with rooms to be rented out later.
While most Palestinian cities in the West Bank are forbidden for Israelis to visit, the part of Bethlehem where the hotel is located is under Israeli control, meaning Israeli tourists seeking to understand the reality of the occupation can also visit.
Bethlehem tourism firms have long complained that the wall and Israel’s continued occupation of the West Bank have crippled business.
The artist has a long history in the Palestinian territories.
Read the full article by AFP at 9News.