Banksy's New Hotel Highlights a City Under Occupation

A great deal of work by the artist Banksy is political, from a life-sized sculpture of a Guantanamo Bay inmate to a series of stencils on Israel’s separation wall, which cuts into the occupied West Bank and violates international law. The images, such as a silhouette of a young girl being carried upward by balloons, have become emblematic critiques of the Israeli state’s policies.

The artist’s latest project brought him (or her) back to Palestine. The Walled Off Hotel, a three-story guesthouse, opened in the West Bank city of Bethlehem last week. Starting March 11, guests can stay at the hotel for as little as $30 a night for a berth in a hostel-like space with bunk beds. Nine private rooms, including a presidential suite, are also available, though prices for these have not yet been listed.