Eylon Levy, former spokesman for Israel, posts manipulated image of Banksy artwork

Eylon Levy, who served as the Israeli government spokesman from the start of Gaza war until March 2024, shared a post on social media referencing Banksy’s latest artwork.

The anonymous street artist, whose identity was allegedly revealed in a recent Reuters article, erected the statute Wednesday among historic military monuments in central London and claimed it as his in a post to Instagram on Thursday.

The statue depicts a suited man holding a flagpole, blindly stepping from his pedestal as the banner blows in his face. It has been heralded as an anti-imperialist work, critical of blind patriotism among growing extremism.

Banksy debuts new mural in London as The Walled Off Hotel reopens in Bethlehem

An identical mural attributed to the artist was painted at the foot of a tower in central London but the artist did not post images of it.

Urgent MatterAdam Schrader

In a statement on Friday, the Westminster City Council said the sculpture was “welcome” and a “striking addition to the city's vibrant public art scene.” The government body indicated the work would not be, while “initial steps” have been taken to protect it.

“Brilliant critique of the anti-Zionist movement, blinded by hate, that it is violently driving Britain off a cliff,” Levy said in a post to social media.

Levy also manipulated a photograph of the statue to depict the man blinded by a keffiyeh while holding a Palestinian flag.

Banksy is known as a supporter of Palestinian rights. He owns a guesthouse in Bethlehem, Palestine, which recently reopened after it closing amid the war in Gaza. Urgent Matter has reached out to the artist for comment.

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