Banksy Has a New Hotel In Bethlehem

Banksy’s never been shy about addressing tumultuous politics, so it had to be only a matter of time before the notorious street artist got involved in Israeli/Palestinian relations. The artist’s significant contribution to the conflict is the new Walled Off Hotel in Bethlehem. The hotel almost touches the infamous West Bank barrier, but its purpose is intended to be less divisive than the West Bank. It’s Banksy and the artist’s collaborators’ hope that the hotel will help inspire conversations between Israelis and Palestinians as well as bring tourism and opportunity to an area that hasn’t seen much of either. There are only ten rooms in the hotel, but each one will feature work from Banksy along with work from artists local to the area, and reservations will start on March 11. As it stands, the hotel is meant to be a permanent fixture in the community, so don’t expect this to be the last you’ve heard of it.