In the hands of artists, Israel’s oppressive wall around the West Bank is also turning into a powerful symbol of resistance. The barrier imposes an apartheid-style regime on the Palestinian people and institutionalizes a land-grab in contravention of international law. But in the words of street artist Banksy, the wall has also become ‘the ultimate activity holiday destination for graffiti writers’ and a stunning visual representation of international solidarity.

William Parry has constructed a beautiful photographic document of this transformation. His crisp, pithy text puts the wall in context and describes how it impacts on the daily lives of Palestinians. Against the Wall is a fine example of the political potential of art that may just help tip the balance of opinion.

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This article is from the September 2010 issue of New Internationalist.

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