VOA常速英语:反战艺术酒店--以色列和巴勒斯坦间的"围墙酒店"

Designed by British graffiti artist Banksy as a satirical political commentary on the traditional Walled-Off Hotel.
It’s nine rooms all boast of view of the controversial separation wall built by the Israeli army.
Palestinian hotel manager Wissam Salsa explains Banksy’s tongue-in-cheek concept in building the hotel.
The location is a little bit different than the rest of the hotels in Bethlehem is located nearby the separation wall.
We are only four yards from the separation wall.
It’s known as the hotel with the worst view in the world.
Salsa’s local Palestinian staff has added seasonal Christmas wreaths and Christmas carols,
to enhance Banksy’s political art, decorating the hotel lobby and rooms.
He claims the hotel has the world’s largest collection of Banksy art,
and even won an award as the world’s best art hotel when it opened two years ago.
Banksy is a big artist, he has lots of fans.

Actually when we started the hotel there are visitors
that came from all over the world to visit the hotel and visit Bethlehem.
And I think there are lots of visitors that they would never ever consider to come to Palestine
or even to Israel if the Walled-Off Hotel is not here.
Thanks he intended to bring international attention to the separation wall covered with colorful political graffiti.
In fact more than a quarter million tourists have flocked to view and take selfies at the wall.
There is even a store next to the hotel which sells stencils and paint for tourists to add their own political statements.
British tourists and hotel guests Gail Goodall said the wall surprised her.
I have very mixed feelings of the war.
I had no idea of the size and the concept around the wall,
but more than anything the art that is portrayed on the wall because it makes you think.
That it makes me realize how lucky we are and where we live.
Hotel managers Salsa says that both Banksy’s art
and the walls graffiti are expressions of solidarity with Palestinian resistance to the Israeli’s occupation of the West Bank.
He encourages tourists to come and view it up close.
Physically just a stand on the wall like next to the wall and feel the wall that makes it very special experience,
and makes you I think feel how how it is to live with the world.
2,000 years ago when Jesus was born there was no room at the inn in Bethlehem.
And those visiting the city this Christmas season will find noavailable rooms at the Walled-Off Hotel.