US graffiti artists support Ariel settlers

Artists4Israel group visits Israeli town located beyond Green Line, spray-paints murals in sympathy. 'Artists boycotting Ariel are mistaken,' says group leader

Amir Bogen|Published: 12.01.10 , 07:59

Seven months after their first visit, members of the New York-based group Artists4Israel have returned to Israel – this time to show support for the residents of the town of Ariel, located beyond the Green Line.

The graffiti artists jumped at the offer to visit the site of conflict and spray-paint its streets with colorful murals in light of the recent boycott of the settlement by Israeli creators and performers.

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Amir Bogen

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During their visit last week, members of the creative community, which aims to express Israel's right to exist through art, stopped at the southern city of Sderot, where they witnessed a Qassam rocket attack. They then ventured beyond the Green Line to show their sympathy towards the residents of Ariel, who held a Thanksgiving dinner in their honor.

In addition to spray-painting graffiti on the walls of buildings, the artists also decided to weigh in on the conflict by criticizing the local artists shunning Ariel. Craig Dershowitz, who heads Artists4Israel, said he wished the boycotting artists had the open mind and the insight to understand that they have made a mistake.

Dershowitz also thanked the boycotters for creating a situation that called for the trip and allowed him to meet the people of Ariel and create the graffiti that he did. He said that he would gladly visit any other locations they decide to boycott, especially if these places are warm in the winter.