Separation Wall and Street Art

The concrete separation wall that runs along the northern edge of Bethlehem is both a heavily contested political reality and one of the world's largest open-air galleries. Since Banksy's influential paintings in 2005, the wall has attracted artists from across the world; the Bethlehem section is particularly dense with murals, stencils, and political messages.

The stretch near the Walled Off Hotel and Aida Camp has the highest concentration of notable work. Walking the wall takes about an hour. It is a striking and often distressing experience — the artwork does not soften the concrete, razor wire, and watchtowers, and was not intended to.

things to do sight
A story
Banksy first painted on the Bethlehem section of the separation wall in 2005, producing nine pieces including the dove in a flak jacket and the sniper girl with flowers. His work brought international attention to the wall as both a physical barrier and a surface for political statement. The pieces have been partially preserved — some repainted, some damaged — and the wall as a whole has become one of the most photographed surfaces in the world.