Banksy’s Apologetic Street Party 100 years after the Balfour Agreement, West Bank Separation Wall 2017

Banksy’s Apologetic Street Party took place outside The Walled Off Hotel in Bethlehem in November 2017, marking 100 years since the Balfour Declaration. Rather than celebrating the centenary, Banksy staged an ironic tea party centred on apology, British history and the continuing consequences of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Banksy’s “Er… Sorry” inscription carved into the West Bank separation wall, Bethlehem, 2017. Image copyright Banksy

The Balfour Declaration

The Walled Off Hotel houses a museum exploring the history of the separation wall and the wider Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Among its displays is a reconstruction relating to the Balfour Declaration, placing Banksy’s 2017 apology within the historical context that visitors encounter throughout the hotel.

Museum display at The Walled Off Hotel depicting the signing of the Balfour Declaration, Bethlehem

Banksy’s Apologetic Street Party in Bethlehem

Banksy staged an ironic tea party outside The Walled Off Hotel in Bethlehem to mark the centenary of the 1917 Balfour agreement. Issued by the British government during the First World War, the declaration expressed support for the establishment of a “national home for the Jewish people” in Palestine.

Banksy’s “Er… Sorry” inscription carved into the West Bank separation wall, Bethlehem, 2017. Image copyright Banksy

One hundred years later, Banksy responded with an event framed around apology rather than celebration. Today, Banksy says sorry to Palestine for the 126 word letter written by British Foreign Minister, Arthur Balfour to Lord Rothschild on 2nd November 1917.

“This conflict has brought so much suffering to people on all sides, it didn’t feel appropriate to celebrate.” — Banksy

As part of the event, a Queen Elizabeth II impersonator unveiled Banksy’s “Er… Sorry” inscription carved into the separation wall. Styled in the manner of a royal cypher, the work turned the visual language of British monarchy and ceremony into a deliberately awkward acknowledgement of Britain’s historical role in the region.

Queen Elizabeth II impersonator unveiling Banksy’s “Er… Sorry” work during the Apologetic Street Party, Bethlehem, 2017. Image copyright Banksy

The “Er… Sorry” carving plays on the royal cypher “ER”, meaning Elizabeth Regina, traditionally shown beneath St Edward’s Crown.

Why Did Banksy Stage the Apologetic Street Party?

The event brought together several themes already present throughout The Walled Off Hotel: Britain’s historical relationship with Palestine, the symbolism of the separation wall and Banksy’s use of satire to address political history. By staging a quintessentially British tea party beside the barrier and introducing a royal impersonator, Banksy turned ceremony into uncomfortable political theatre. The setting was especially significant because The Walled Off Hotel had opened earlier that same year, placing these questions at the centre of the project. 

The event also forms part of Banksy’s wider history in Palestine, where street art, political satire and the physical presence of the separation wall repeatedly intersect. Explore our complete guide to Banksy’s art in Palestine.

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