EDITORIAL

The Walled Off Hotel

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New York City’s famous Waldorf Astoria is synonymous with luxury living. In 2006, Hilton Hotels began its luxury collection of hotels by the same name. The Waldorf Astoria in Jerusalem, according to a 2015 survey, was distinguished as being the 7th best hotel in the world; to rent the Ambassador Suite can set one back in the neighborhood of $1,700 a night. Not surprisingly for the price, the view from Jerusalem’s Waldorf Astoria is breathtaking.

Several miles away, and a world apart, lies the Walled Off Hotel. Located in Bethlehem, in the Palestinian West Bank, visitors can stay on bunks for as low as $60 a night, with rooms costing upwards of $225. The hotel takes its name from its location, adjacent to the massive wall separating the West Bank from the State of Israel, and standing about 1,600 feet from the checkpoint leading into Jerusalem.

The Walled Off Hotel is not a gimmick, but a legitimate hotel founded by the anonymous, but world-renowned, graffiti artist and political activist known as Banksy. His intention is to peacefully tell the story of the wall and allow observers to make their own decisions and judgments. The website offers “a warm welcome to everyone from all sides of the conflict and across the world,” and boasts that, “every time God comes to earth it seems to happen near here.” The hotel’s museum and art gallery propose culture as a means of considering conflict, instead of violence. The view from many rooms is obstructed by the imposing separation wall just a few feet away, and leaves much to be desired. But the general desire communicated by the Walled Off Hotel offers a provocative and innovative view of a world in conflict.