JERUSALEM (JTA) — The elusive street artist Banksy has unveiled his latest piece at his hotel in Bethlehem, a nativity scene representing Palestinians under occupation.
The “Scar of Bethlehem” unveiled on Saturday at the Walled Off Hotel features a nativity scene with Mary and Joseph and baby Jesus, but instead of a star hanging over the creche there is a large bullet hole through a gray wall with scratches around the hole that looks like a star.
The words “Love” and “peace” in both English and France are graffitied on the pieces of the concrete wall.
Banksy opened the Walled Off Hotel just steps from a section of Israel’s West Bank security barrier in 2017 to draw attention to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The hotel, which is filled with Banksy artwork, is billed as the hotel with the “worst view in the world.” Every room has a view of the security barrier.
Banksy’s true identity remains a mystery and he was not present during the revealing of his latest work, according to The Guardian.
More news and opinions than at a Shabbat dinner, right in your inbox.