Art on Israel's Apartheid Wall

Mosaic News - 1/14/09: World News From The Middle East

This is only a segment of the January 14 Mosaic News. If you wish to see the whole show, click the play button after you have finished watching the segment.

From Link Tv Episode Script

"Art on Israel's Separation Wall
Dubai TV, UAE
Presenter, Woman # 1
Artists created artwork on the separation wall criticizing racial discrimination and calling for peace. However, some see the artwork in a different way. While some believe that the murals keep the Palestinian cause alive in people’s minds, others believe that these murals make the wall look better, and can be interpreted as surrendering to the status-quo. Muhammad Al Said reports from Qalandia.

Reporter, Man # 1
The separation wall divides the West Bank, and wraps around its cities and villages like a huge snake. It has been used as a canvas by Palestinian and foreign artists to express anger and hope for peace. The wall is full of art rejecting racism and the transformation of Palestinian land into a big prison.

Guest, Man # 2
This is not a new idea; it emerged after the Berlin wall was built. Using the wall for displaying artwork is a process of learning and developing new ideas. Some of the foreigners come here alone; others come as an organized group. Therefore, there are different levels of cooperation.

Reporter, Man # 1
The artwork created by foreigners and Palestinians gets mixed reviews. Some believe that it makes the wall look better, but they want it to look the way it is so it can reflect the ugliness of Israeli racism.

Guest, Man # 3
There is some confusion here. Yes, some artwork is beautiful but regardless of how beautiful it is, they will not make the wall look better. Also, this art was not intended to help the Palestinians accept the wall, it is the opposite.

Reporter, Man # 1
Some look positively at these artworks, because they can see them as calls to resist the separation wall. Occupation soldiers cracked down on the artists until foreign artists painted peace doves on large areas of the wall. When Israel built the wall inside the 1967occupied territories, it wanted it to mark the final border. Now Israel is talking about swapping remote areas in exchange for land isolated by the wall. The Palestinians, however, refuse the wall and use it today for huge murals. Muhammad Al Said, Dubai Television, near the Apartheid Wall, Qalandia.



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