On Saturday 21 May, Sabeel hosted a webinar with Wisam Salsaa, the owner and manager of the Walled Off Hotel in Bethlehem. A boutique hotel, the Walled Off Hotel was designed by anonymous London-based artist Banksy, other creatives, and the academic Dr. David Grindon. Salsaa is a close friend of Banksy. About 30 people from Australia joined the webinar. Over 100 people had registered, but that day happened to be election day in Australia. The group had a very meaningful discussion, especially about the role of art in the Palestinian resistance against the Israeli occupation.
In the last 30 years, art created by Palestinians in historic Palestine and the diaspora has increased significantly. Before the First Intifada in 1987, art was almost extinct in the occupied territories of Palestine. With the birth of the First Intifada, art returned and has blossomed. Now, there are hundreds of Palestinian artists who are well known in and outside of Palestine. Sabeel sees this as a sign of great hope.
Established in March 2017, and initially set up as a temporary exhibition, the Walled Off Hotel has welcomed thousands of visitors. This is, thanks in part, to its location next to part of the Israeli apartheid wall. The hotel is thought of as an important piece of social commentary on the occupation and is described as having “the worst view of any hotel in the world.”