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Who vandalized and destroyed the works of art on the street?

Will street art be protected?

(Hai Fa) – Many residents, who were used to enjoying the colorful appearance of Shivat Zion Street, decorated with artwork painted about four years ago, were shocked to discover that the works had been vandalized and sprayed with graffiti. “It’s not pleasant to see the beautiful works vandalized. These are works that time, love and thought were invested in for the benefit of the public,” says the artist, Amiram Shloush, who expressed sorrow over the damage to his works.

Graffiti vandalism in Haifa ► Watch

Vandalism of a graffiti in Haifa (Photo: Noga Carmi)

A unique and spectacular project

In December 2021, on Shivat Zion Street, Wadi Salib, Haifa – as part of a unique and spectacular project, “Illustrating the Street – STREET CRAFTING,” Amiram Shloush, a creator and graffiti artist, in collaboration with other artists and the Haifa Municipality, succeeded in breathing life into the main street. As part of the project, each artist received a creative space on the doors and walls of participating businesses, transforming the public space into a collection of free, colorful, and inspiring works of art.

For four years, the artworks transformed the desolate and boring Shivt Zion Street into a vibrant and colorful hub. The street, which excited everyone who passed by, became a symbol of the living and dynamic city. The project gained wide recognition and was integrated into graffiti and street art tours in Haifa, where visitors learned about the artworks and what motivates artists, who sell their works for thousands of shekels, to paint for free in public spaces. However, in the past 24 hours, photos have been revealed showing the vandalism of the artworks, sparking outrage and angry reactions from all sides.

Before the destruction

Artwork as part of the "Illustrating the Street - STREET CRAFTING" project (courtesy of Ze.MaNish)

After the vandalism

Vandalism of street art paintings in Haifa (Photo: Noga Carmi)

Everything is dynamic and changing.

"It's unpleasant to see the beautiful works defaced. These are works that have been put into which time, love and thought have been invested for the benefit of the public," Shloush said in a conversation with "Hai Fe." He tells how he learned about the act: "People saw, took pictures and sent them to me. This is a central street, and the destruction is simply unpleasant. It's a difficult feeling, especially when it comes to a project that we did out of love and without financial goals. However, I understand that this is the reality of street art – nothing is forever. Everything is dynamic and changing."

Before the destruction

Artwork as part of the "Illustrating the Street - STREET CRAFTING" project (courtesy of

After the vandalism

Vandalism of street art paintings in Haifa (Photo: Noga Carmi)

Despite the pain, Shlosh is optimistic about the possibility of turning the situation into an opportunity: "It can be fixed, but it's complicated. Some of the artists are no longer in Israel or Haifa. We hope that the municipality will support and provide a budget for a new project, and then we can create something good out of this destruction. If there is cooperation, the situation can become positive."

Shloush adds: "I don't have the time and resources to bother filing complaints with the police, but I would certainly be happy if the municipality took the initiative - checked the cameras, checked who was responsible for the vandalism, and made sure to file an official complaint. Such steps could deter vandals and prevent future damage. After all, what's the point of restoring, creating new paintings, and investing in them, if in the end they are vandalized again and again?"

Before the destruction

Artwork as part of the "Illustrating the Street - STREET CRAFTING" project (courtesy of

After the vandalism

Vandalism of street art paintings in Haifa (Photo: Noga Carmi)

Street art, like any artistic work, is protected by copyright, but Israeli law treats works in the public sphere differently. While in the United States, courts have recognized the rights of street artists and even ruled in their favor to award them compensation, in Israel the situation is more complex. A sculpture, architectural work, or applied art receive reduced protection, and the courts allow the use of photographs of these works without the permission of the creator.

Despite this, there have also been precedents in Israel in which courts have ruled in favor of artists. For example, this month in Tel Aviv, a photographer who photographed street art in Florentine was awarded compensation after the works were used without permission and credit.

The Importance of Street Art – Beyond the beauty and vitality they add, street art is an expression of creative freedom, a space to express ideas and feelings, and a bridge between artists and the community. Projects like “Illuminating the Street” emphasize the importance of preserving copyright and the need to protect art from vandalism.

Now, when the future of the project depends on whether the municipality will support the restoration of the works, a clear call arises: continue to protect street art, support the creators, and preserve public spaces as places full of life, creativity, and meaning.

Vandalism of street art paintings in Haifa (Photo: Noga Carmi)

contact: At watsapBy email

Samar Odeh - Carantinji
Samar Odeh - Carantinji
Journalist in the team of correspondents of the Chai Pe site • Municipal reporter, crimes, environment and health Contact Samar by email: [email protected]

Articles related to this topic

25 תגובות

  1. The police must find the murderer and put him in jail!!!! There must be cameras. All you need is the will to catch the perpetrator.

  2. It's not hard to guess who destroyed the works. After all, who lives in Shivat Zion? The seed of the Amalekites and they are used to destroying everything. Kahana Tzedek Transfer now.

  3. A city without enforcement
    When you allow people to park on sidewalks and inside roads however they want, you destroy everything, not just sidewalks and surroundings, but also street art, furniture, benches, murals, you break bus stops, you rip the upholstery off buses, you put your feet on the seats.
    Education systems produce hatred, polarization, violence, violent demonstrations, slogans of curses and screams.
    Taking over intersections with bullying and screaming, so what do you expect that the younger generation won't grow up like animals? The day they put a person who destroys public property in prison for a year and submit the bill for correction based on canceling his and his immediate family's benefits, this will stop.
    Therefore, it is mandatory, mandatory, mandatory.
    Legal, political, and police reform, everything.
    Reform and repair the damage of the state of Georgia and all its citizens are mutually disruptive.

  4. At the time, I sent the Haifa editor a photo of the student from the Raleigh School in the center of the Carmel who was spraying paint on the walls of Haifa's streets. It seems that nothing has been done about it.

  5. Regarding the corruption on Artists Street, I wrote about it in the past, about two years ago? The Carmel Center was a destination for paint splatters everywhere in sight, so they released the young people, for a short time, unfortunately even today they have returned to the Carmel Center and vandalized trash cans in public parks again, and so on, including Wolfson Street, around the adjacent public park, and the issue is not being addressed. Haifa was a tourist city at the time, as a citizen I am ashamed when I meet tourists on the Carmel. Please go back to the municipality, please address these scourges. Install hidden cameras in these areas. Of course, this is usually late in the evenings and at night. Thank you, Irit.L.

  6. The municipality and the police must wake up quickly about the young Arab generation who behave like terrorists with their cars/motorcycles, with the filth they leave in the downtown area after partying, with loud music, and by vandalizing street art. This is even easier compared to the crime against businesses, homes, and cars.

  7. I think that, contrary to people's claims here about corruption by pro-terror elements...
    The shape of the black chatter clearly shows that the chatterer has experience in lending at interest and preparing matzah from…

  8. Catch the destroyer(s) and bring him/her to justice. The problem is that I fear that if the culprit(s) are caught, the defense attorney will present the destroyer(s) as mentally unstable, not responsible for their actions, and the next destruction is a matter of time... There is no shortage of mentally ill people... There is a shortage of psychiatrists.

  9. Evil and ugly vandalism, which represents hatred for the public, hatred for the environment, and hatred for art… What a lack of culture!!!
    People who cruelly harm what belongs to all are inhuman and have no right to live among us... They belong behind bars...
    Hopefully, the perpetrators of the crime will be caught and punished.

  10. Oh my, what vandalism, wow!
    In my opinion, by the neighbors, the younger generation
    In Wadi Nisnas.
    The tireless incitement of Pro….

  11. Haifa is a city without hope and without a dream, going from one poverty to another. From the elite who cuts back on culture and sports to the poor little person who damages works of art at night in the dark.

    • 048 is a team of Jewish Haifa artists. It is customary to write in graffiti the area code you come from. In Haifa it is 04 and the first number on a landline is 8. You are a little racist, look for the pain inside you and heal it

  12. In the penultimate picture, the word 'falestin' is written in Arabic on the left in black. We need to catch whoever did this.

    • I have a feeling I know who is destroyed, who lives close to the street, who doesn't serve in the army, who doesn't do national service, who claims to be deprived but receives all the rights, who has priority because of so-called affirmative action based on sectors, and who claims that the land is his and was stolen from him, who has skyrocketing crime and murder rates. Did I hit a nail on the head?

  13. In the penultimate picture, the word 'Palestine' is written in Arabic on the left in black. We need to catch whoever did this.

    • These are the friends from the villages who come at night – especially specific areas. They have turned (upgraded?) mediocre art into (really impressive) and tasteless black graffiti. Fix it with sweet, kitschy wallpapers that can be obtained cheaply (because they are very cheap now) and even if they try again (of course they might try – with the cameras installed) the zero price is worth it.

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