1/ It's that time of year again, and Banksy's simplistic, shallow but evocative political art work of Joseph and Miriam being confronted by a giant concrete wall and watchtower. 
2/ The image juxtaposes of the mythological image of Yosef trying to reach Bethlehem - called forth by the xmas star (which is on the other side - unreachable). The harshness of a ten-foot concrete barrier is contrasted with idillic pastoral image of local shepherds.
3/ Border watchtower in full view, in order to invoke image of concentration camp. It is also intended to invoke the impression that "Jews were victim but now they're the oppressors"
4/ IMO there's quite a strong element of old "christian antisemitism" - i.e. from "the Jews killed Jesus" to "they build barriers to even his parents going to Bethlehem". So then intended comparison is very clear.
5/ But the comparison only works though if one accepts that:
- The Jews were collectively responsible for the death of Jesus and/or critical part of ones own religious understanding that Jews rejected Jesus as Christ.
- The Jews were collectively responsible for the death of Jesus and/or critical part of ones own religious understanding that Jews rejected Jesus as Christ.
6/ Further false associated evoked by the image are:
a) Israel is the "death star" (sheer concrete and murder weapons) whereas Palestinians are peaceful and have no weapons
a) Israel is the "death star" (sheer concrete and murder weapons) whereas Palestinians are peaceful and have no weapons
7/ b) Israel/Palestine was an idyllic, green, peaceful and peaceful land before the modern state of Israel.
8/ If one doesn't accept the above, it is (at the very least) and exceptionally insulting image given that
a. there are over a million Israeli Christians
b. Bethlehem was Jewish town with a Hebrew name.
c. Israelis forbidden to ender, mainly for their own safety.
a. there are over a million Israeli Christians
b. Bethlehem was Jewish town with a Hebrew name.
c. Israelis forbidden to ender, mainly for their own safety.
9/ The barrier is one of the outcomes of standoff that occurred in 2002 between IDF and Palestinian militants at the Church of nativity, at the hight of the intifada.
10/ During a 39-day standoff, scores of suspected Palestinian gunmen holed up in the Bethlehem church, taking as human shields or hostages around 200 Christian clergy and civilians.
11/ According to most contemporary reports, the Christian clergy and civilians were the hostages of the Palestinian gunmen. An eventual deal to conclude the siege sent the Palestinian terrorists into exile in Europe.
12/ Reports indicated that the gunmen used Bibles as toilet paper and placed 40 bombs across the chapel area of the church, considered by Christians to be one of the holiest places in Israel.
13/ One most prominent "fighter" was Ibrahahim Abayat, the commander of a terrorist cell that murdered the elderly pro-Palestinian peace activist, Avi Boaz, in Bethlehem, three months before the Church of the Nativity incident occurred
14/ American-citizen Boaz was an architect who, alongside his Palestinian engineer partner, planned to construct housing in the Bethlehem area where he had been a fixture for 20 years. His body was found riddled with bullets in a car near Bethlehem.
15/ So don't talk to me about any respect the Palestinian militants (mostly Muslim) had for the Christian town.
This is an antisemitic postcard/painting
End of.
This is an antisemitic postcard/painting
End of.
As someone corrected me - there are only about 200K :/
Admittedly, I didn't actually think of this painting as antisemitic until I wrote this thread.
I wonder what some of the poorer residents of Bethlehem of their "story" funding the lavish life of a British artist.
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