“This is a theft of the property of the Palestinian people,” said Jeries Qumsieh, a spokesman for the Palestinian Ministry of Tourism. “This was a painting by an international artist for Palestine. So transferring and stealing is an illegal act.”
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The graffiti artwork was one of several works Banksy created in 2007 on the concrete dividing wall. The artist always did this in secret. Now the work is in the Urban Gallery in Tel Aviv.
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Koby Abergel, the Israeli art dealer exhibiting the painting, says he bought it from a Palestinian partner. He does not give more information about that partner and about the price he paid. “But it’s not the intention to sell the piece,” Abergel says.
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The concrete wall stands on the border between Israel and the West Bank. In 2002, the wall was built by Israel and is now 700 meters long.
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