Some folks in Bethlehem interpreted some of Banksy’s graffiti art he painted on the Apartheid Wall Israel has surrounded the town with as insulting to the Palestinian struggle. I see where they’re coming from, but you sort of have to want to see the paintings that way in order to see them that way. Pretty much the rest of the world understood them to imply Israeli responsibility for the current situation.

Bethlehem residents vandalise Banksy graffiti
Rebecca Harrison in Bethlehem

Bethlehem residents have painted over a satirical mural by the graffiti artist Banksy that was meant to highlight their plight.

The elusive British artist had painted six images around the town to help drum up tourism before Christmas and to illustrate the hardships faced by Palestinians in the occupied West Bank.

But the irony behind the depiction of an Israeli soldier checking a donkey’s identity papers was lost on some residents, who found it offensive.

“We’re humans here, not donkeys,” said Nasri Canavati, a restaurater. “This is insulting. I’m glad it was painted over.”

To be called a donkey in Palestinian society is similar to being called an idiot.

Not all Bethlehem residents found the mural offensive. Fyras Twemeh, an architect, thought it was funny and made a neat political point. “It’s offensive for the Israelis, not for us,” he said. “It shows how much their minds are limited so they even check donkeys.”